SEED TREATMENT 
(For Disease Control) 
As no reference to the treatment of seeds has been made in 
the chart, a separate chapter is here devoted to the subject. 
It is quite obvious that only clean and disease-free seed 
should be planted. However, it behooves the grower to doubly 
safeguard his interests by properly treating his seeds before 
planting. The process is relatively inexpensive and will save 
the grower many a headache, as well as substantial sums in 
dollars and cents. 
The following recommendations are those suggested by Flor- 
ida State Experiment Stations: 
Treatment for the prevention of Damping Off fungi: 
Per Bu. 
Beans. Lamas $2.20 Spcrgonimeercess oe ak 2% oz. 
Beans, Snap and Pole .......... SDEL COM ye eee ee AL 2 oz: 
Deas ee eee eee he Ser eons yee wes ley 2% oz. 
Wantaloupemcetes ee ass Ber eo st 8 es ee 2/3 oz. 
Pivas. Aeon eA tct W day ere moar ne ie VW oz. 
GarrCh wees ts eee ee Pere Ol wen ha. Tey Oz: 
Celeryrenic te eee he Bemesan pet arene 1/3 02. 
Cabbage, Cauliflower, etc..... Spergon | ................. oer eee 34 02. 
ObRDCINeSAle = ar eee VW oz. 
Cucumber eee Semesaly Messe aeew eee WY oz. 
Hgeplantms. o2s y0ke oe SCIMGSAIi pecon were te VW oz. 
OER OPET Olu ere eet one. 4/5 oz. 
Ege ar Ol ef -nie ape oe teh ae DEMESA Nate... ees - COME 
Metttseu ss. vi oan See SPCESON Atta ee es % oz. 
| Rdsja] aay ie eet ee ee DPemesan gts 6.22.2 2/3 oz. 
SVC Htee os eee eet os. Sel Geri wwe wie Oo oh, 8 1% oz. 
al ACS Fe hope ak Ue ae eee SeMieSa tee cotraan este Qf S07: 
Wisterme] Ona sce ees Be. eben a Semesan ............... es et: Y% oz. 
The seed and seed treatment material should be thoroughly 
mixed together in a rotary drum mixer until all the seed are 
uniformly coated with the treatment material. In most cases 
this will take from three to five minutes at a speed of forty 
revolutions per minute. Screen off excess dust. 
TREATMENT FOR THE PREVENTION OF 
SEED-BORNE DISEASES: 
Hot water treatment affecting organisms on surface as 
well as within TOMATO seeds: 
Soaking of seeds in hot water having a minimum temperature 
of 122° F. (Not to exceed 129° F.) for a period of 25 minutes. 
Small quantities of seed should be placed in loosely woven cloth 
bags so as not to be over half filled. An accurate thermometer 
is necessary. After treatment the hot, wet seed should be 
spread out in thin layers for drying purposes. Old, weak seed 
should not be treated in this manner, as the germination would 
be affected seriously. Do not attempt this treatment, unless 
thoroughly understood and fully equipped. 
Bichloride of Mercury (Corrosive sublimate) treatment 
affecting organisms on surface of seeds: 
Cucumbers: Dilute 1:1000, immersing seed for 10 minutes. 
Less hardy seeds: Dilute 1:1000, immersing seeds for 5 min- 
utes. 
For small quantities of seed dissolve 1 tablet in 1 pint of 
water. 
For larger quantities dissolve 1 oz. of the powder form in 
7% gallons of water. It is advisable to dissolve the powder 
in a small quantity (a pint or quart) of boiling water first. 
Place seed in loosely woven cloth bags (about one half full). 
Submerge bags in solution and stir with a stick to loosen ad- 
hering bubbles. After soaking the proper length of time, re- 
move bags and drain thoroughly. Seed should be washed for 
15 minutes in several changes of water. Then spread in thin 
layers to allow to dry. 
Do not prepare solution of Bichloride of Mercury in metal 
containers. Only glass, earthenware or wooden vessels should 
be used. In working with the compound, the greatest caution 
should be exercised, as it is extremely poisonous. 
The Standard of Quality in Florida for Over 35 Years 
SANITATION 
The practice of sanitation is of such vital importance, that 
no grower can afford to ignore the subject. Yet, in many cases, 
serious losses result from a complete neglect of a few simple 
rules. Diseases will spread readily from sick to healthy plants 
by various means, depending upon the nature of the disease. 
Spores of many species of fungi are air or wind borne, while 
vthers may be scattered over fields in water, due to rain or 
irrigation. Insects play an important part in the dissemination 
of diseases, particularly those of the sucking type, such as 
aphids, thrips, etc. Certain cultural operations, as pruning, 
picking, transplanting, etc., are greatly responsible for the 
scattering of diseases, especially those caused by bacteria and 
viruses, mosaic being a specific example of the latter. 
Considering the methods of dissemination mentioned, it be- 
comes obvious that the source of the disease should be de- 
stroyed, if at all possible. Affected plants, as well as dropped. 
decaying fruit, should be removed from the field and burned. 
Cultivation should be clean and frequent. Mechanical injury of 
plants by plowing, spraying or picking operations should be 
avoided as much as possible. Crop rotation is essential, provided 
that no other crop affected by the responsible disease is grown 
for several years. This method often proves cheaper than an 
attempt to control the disease chemically. As weeds serve as 
host plants to many insects, which may be carriers of fungi, 
viruses, etc., the necessity of their eradication certainly becomes 
evident. Whenever practical, soil moisture should be kept fairly 
contant. Corrective measures should be adopted where soils are 
either too acid or too alkaline. 
POISONOUS INSECTICIDES 
Great care should be exercised in the handling and storing of 
poisonous materials commonly used for spraying and dusting. 
Some of these compounds are not only highly toxic when taken 
internally, but also dangerous because of their power of skin 
penetration, but their effect upon the respiratory system due to 
inhalation of poisonous vapors as well as dust particles. 
Poisonous compounds or portions of such compounds con- 
tained in mixtures listed or recommended in this catalog are: 
Arsenicals, such as arsenate of lead, calcium arsenate and 
paris green are highly poisonous. These materials should be 
stored in tight containers and plainly labeled and marked 
“Poison”. None of the arsenicals should be inhaled. Open 
wounds should be protected when working with Paris green or 
Paris green mixtures, to avoid contamination. 
Fluorine Compounds vary in toxicity to man and warm- 
blooded animals. In general, it can be said all fluocides. 
(a) and fluosilicates (b) are extremely poisonous, while some 
of the fluoaluminates (c) are only mildly so. Examples of 
these three types of fluorine salts are: (a) sodium fluoride, 
(b) sodium fluosilicate and barium fluosilicate, and (c) 
sodium fluoaluminate (cryolites, including natural cryolite 
bearing the trade name of “Kryocide”). 
Copper Compounds, such as Bordeaux, Copotox. Cop- 
per-A Compound, Pyrox and Tri-Basic Copper, are all to be 
considered poisonous, as they may disturb the function of 
gastric juices, when taken internally. 
Nicotine and Its Compounds are all violent poisons and 
they should be handled with great caution. Concentrated 
liquid nicotine solutions are particularly dangerous, when ac- 
cidentally coming in contact with the skin, the nicotine being: 
readily absorbed through the skin and causing acute illness. 
Solutions spilled on skin should be immediately washed off 
with water and clothing that has become wet from nicotine: 
spraying should be removed. 
Carbon Disulfide is not only poisonous but is also highly 
inflammable. It should be kept away from fire, hot pipes and’ 
lighted cigarets and should be stored in tightly closed con- 
tainers. If inhaled in large amounts, it will produce death. 
Inhalation of smaller amounts may cause dizziness and nausea. 
Cyanogas (calcium cyanide), when coming in contact with 
air, liberates the deadly hydrocyanic acid gas. The use of 
the gas outside in the open air is a relatively safe procedure: 
if necessary precautions are taken. However, the fumiga- 
tion of dwellings and other enclosures should never be under-. 
taken by persons who are not thoroughly familiar with the: 
poisonous nature of the gas. 
49) 
