Show electric current Is not helpful to seed claims of increased yields not substantiated prepared Pr red by the united states depart ment at t agriculture claims made by some investigators that treating the seed of small grains with electricity increases the yield have not been substantiated by results of experiments by the united states department of agriculture A process patented and brought into use in england in under the trade name wolfran Wol fryn electrochemical process has been well advertised in that country canada the united states and australia the process consists in subjecting the seed grain to an electric current DO passing through a conducting solution in which the seed aeed Is immersed some reports indicated that this electrochemical treatment ment increased the yield 20 to 30 per cent and a nd reduced the losses from bunts bunt rust and wireworks wireworms wire worms the experimental methods adopted by the united states department of agriculture to determine the value of such treatment and the results obtained ave nave just been published in department part ment circular which la Is now ready for distribution the investigators conclude with the statement data obtained from replicated plats of winter wheat harvested at the arlington experiment farm in 1021 1921 and 1022 showed no benefit or profit resulting from treating the seed electrochemically by the so called wolfran Wol fryn process grain yields from all plats aown with electrochemically treated seed averaged 11 bushels per acre less than yields from plats sown with untreated seed no effect of the treatment on plant growth or disease infection could be b observed A copy of oi the circular may be secured as long as the supply lasts from the knifed states department of agriculture washington D C |