EDITORIAL. 
Experimental tests with treated seed made at Rothamsted in 1918-19 
were made with oats and barley. In five out of eight cases tried there 
was no increase, while in some there was a loss. Of the other three 
cases, the slight gain of 3 per cent. is too small for any certainty as to 
gain to be reckoned; the other two gains might be real, but they do not 
in any case represent much. The experiment was repeated in 1919 
with seven different lots of wheat, and of fourteen measurements in 
these seven different cases, only four were in favour, whilst eight are 
against the process. Dr. Russell also quotes another series of experi- 
ments made by Professor Somerville, at Oxford, which were a little 
more favorable, perhaps, than those obtained at Rothamsted, and they 
were also more favorable, than other results obtained on experimental 
stations; but they did not, according to Dr. Russell, hold out any par- 
ticular promise. 
EFFECT OF ELECTRICITY. 
Discussing the question generally, Dr. Russell points out that it 
may be that the successes are purely accidental; on the other hand, 
they may be real, and he is inclined to think that they are. The process 
consists of three parts: soaking the seed in a solution of certain salts; 
submitting while still in the solution to an electric current; then drying 
at 110° P. Now, it is well known that kiln-dried barley, especially 
after steeping, will germinate more evenly and satisfactorily than will 
ordinary barley. ‘This is particularly the case if the barley contains any 
amount over 14 per cent. or 15 per cent. moisture, and it is also true 
even in a season when the moisture content is below the average. Pro- 
fessor Stapledon has shown that drying seed at 100° F. may improve 
its germination, unless germination is already very good: Anything 
that helps germination may be useful on land which has been folded 
and left in an unfavorable condition. It is possible that the drying in 
the treatment might be sufficient to help germination. Apparently, in 
some cases, the électrified seed made the better start. At Wye, the 
young plants from the electrified seed, both of oats and barley, at first 
showed greater vigour than those from untreated seed, but the superiority 
soon erecenen! This, however, is not usual. At Rothamsted, no such 
difference was seen. In Professor Stapledon’s germination tests, the 
treated seeds were not quite so good as were the untreated. ~Neverthe- 
less, the occasional help to germination derived from one or other parts 
of the treatment may prove of value in certain field conditions, and thus 
lead to a better crop than would otherwise ensue. It is impossible to 
prove a negative proposition; a few unexceptional positive results out- 
weigh any amount of negative evidence, and would show that the 
treatment had some merit. Dr. Russell therefore points out that the 
failure of electrified seed to give any increase in yield under the carefully- 
controlled conditions of an experimental station trial shows that the 
process lacks certainty. It cannot be compared in effectiveness with 
manuring, which sueceeds nearly every time if properly done. He is 
not prepared, on present evidence, to say that the process nevér succeeds, 
but the risk of failure seems so great that the farmer should look upon 
it as an adventure which may or may not prove profitable. 
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