Seed disinfection: II. Large-scale field trials on the disinfection of seed corn with mercury dust disinfectants

Extract

1. Treatment in bulk of the grain of wheat, barley, winter oats and spring oats with a proprietary dust, and two experimental dusts A and B which contained organic compounds of mercury, had no harmful effect on germination when drilling followed shortly after treatment. In the case of spring oats, drilling was delayed 7½ weeks after treatment without any harmful effects on germination.

2. The proprietary and experimental dusts both proved effective in controlling bunt disease of wheat, and the leaf-stripe and net-blotch diseases of barley.

3. In the case of barley, the proprietary and experimental dusts both increased the speed of “brairding” but not the final plant population. This hastening of seedling growth did not lead to a higher yield.

4. In the case of winter oats, only the experimental dust A gave a significant increase in plant population and a satisfactory control of the loose smut disease.