In Peggie Shultz's _Amaryllis...And How To Grow Them_ (1954), she includes
a treatment used by "...Mrs Fannie Heath of Mound, Minnesota..." who has
cured her amaryllises of at least one virus. Mrs. Heath mixes one teaspoon
of formaldehyde in a quart of water and "treats bulb, leaves, pot, also
earth, once every five days for three weeks..."

The strength of the formaldehyde isn't given. I couldn't find out anything
about what was available OTC in the 50s, so I'm assuming the formaldehyde
used is @37% as is found easily today, though that is pure speculation.

I couldn't find anything else regarding plant virus treatment using
formaldehyde, so I'm thinking this avenue has been abandonned or
disproved, or has it been "below the radar" since that time? Anyone know
anything about this kind of treatment?

Robert.

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