IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF GRAIN AND SEEDS OF ALL KINDS, PLANTS, AND ALL VEGETABLE MATTERS GENERALLY, FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE SAME FROM DECAY AND DISEASE, THE ATTACKS OF INSECTS, AND OTHER DESTRUCTIVE AGENTS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE TREATMENT OF GRAIN AND SEEDS OF ALL KINDS, PLANTS, AND ALL
VEGETABLE MATTERS GENERALLY, FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE SAME FROM
DECAY AND DISEASE, THE ATTACKS OF INSECTS, AND OTHER DESTRUCTIVE
AGENTS." A communication from abroad by Henri Nicolas Rogé, Edouard
Poret, Pierre Hypolite Baffoy, and Pierre Stanislas Eléonore Dupré, all of
Paris, France.
Sealed the 20th March 1877, and dated the 3rd October 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd October 1876.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middle-
Box, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF GRAIN AND SEEDS OF
ALL KINDS, PLANTS, AND ALL VEGETABLE MATTERS GENERALLY, FOR THE PRESER-
VATION OF THE SAME FROM DECAY AND DISEASE, THE ATTACKS OF INSECTS, AND
OTHER DESTRUCTIVE AGENTS."
In order to preserve cereals and other grain or seeds intended for sowing it is
usual to steep the same in a milk of lime, or a solution of sulphate of copper, or
other known preservative substance, whereby the grain or seed is partly protected
until the time of germination against the attacks of larvæ, maggots, and insects, as
well as from decay. The same means are also employed for preserving the
existence of young plants, either by steeping, watering, or sprinkling the roots and
stalks in a weak solution of the above oxides or salts. Weak solutions of copper
have also been employed for treating certain diseases of plants, and removing or
destroying cryptogamic vegetation and noxious insects.
This Invention consists in the treatment with salts of lead of grain and seeds of
all kinds, plants, and all vegetable matters generally, for the preservation of the
same from decay and disease, as well as against the attacks of parasites, insects,
lary, maggots or worms, the treatment with salts of lead being more efficacious
and economical than the liming and sulphuring now used for curing smut, rust, and
other diseases of grain. All the soluble salts of lead are suitable for this purpose,

page_text: pyrolignite of lead for example, but nitrate of lead is preferable, as this salt intro-
duces into the earth a fertilizing agent, namely, nitrogen.
By this novel application of salts of lead to the above purposes the germination
of cereals is moreover hastened, and they are made to pass more rapidly through
the first periods of vegetation.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark, in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd March 1877.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF GRAIN AND SEEDS OF ALL
KINDS, PLANTS, AND ALL VEGETABLE MATTERS GENERALLY, FOR THE PRESERVATION
OF THE SAME FROM DECAY AND DISEASE, THE ATTACKS OF INSECTS, AND OTHER
DESTRUCTIVE AGENTS." A communication from abroad by Henri Nicolas Rogé,
Edouard Porct, Pierre Hypolite Baffoy, and Pierre Stanislas Eléonore Dupré, all
of Paris, France.
In order to preserve cereals and other grain or seeds intended for sowing it is
usual to steep the same in a-milk of lime or a solution of sulphate of copper, or
other known preservative agent, whereby the grain or seed is partially protected
until the time of germination against the attacks of larvae, worms, and insects, as
well as from decay. The same means are also employed for preserving the existence
of young plants, either by soaking, watering, or sprinkling the roots and stalks in
a weak solution of these oxides or salts. Weak solutions of salts of copper have
also been employed for treating certain diseases of plants, and removing or
destroying cryptogamic vegetation and noxious insects.
This Invention consists in treating with salts of lead grain and seeds of all
kinds, plants, and all vegetable matters generally, in order to preserve them
from decay and disease, as well as against the attacks of parasites, insects, larvae,
maggots, or worms. This treatment with salts of lead is also more efficacious and
economical than the liming and sulphuring processes now employed for curing
smut, rust, and other diseases of grain. All the soluble salts of lead are suitable for
this purpose, pyrolignite of lead for example, but nitrate of lead is preferable, as
this salt introduces into the earth a fertilising agent, viz., nitrogen.
By this novel application of salts of lead to the above purposes the germination
of cereals is also hastened, and they are made to pass more rapidly through the first
periods of vegetation.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the novel application of lead salts,
and more particularly pyrolignite and nitrate of lead, as specified, for preserving
cereals, grain, and seeds of all kinds, plants, and vegetable matters generally, from
decay, disease, the attacks of insects, and other destructive causes.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.