Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1879-09-25

made to germinate and grow while under
observation, when the process of growth is
seen to be, as usual with all fungoid vegeta
tion, throwing out Of white threads called
''mycelium," and the gradual formation Of
the brown spores or seeds which we know
as smut in the substance Of this mycelium.
When smut is abundant, crops are either
totally ruined or so damaged as to be worth
very little. Further, this smut is proved to
be injurious to cattle which consume swut-
ty fodder, and it is reasonably believed that
much disease originates from the feeding Of
straw or corn stalks infested with smut.
Fortunately we have an effective remedy
within our reach. 1t has been discovered
that caustic alkalies destroy the substance
of the smut; and, also. that the application
OF sulphates of iron, copper and zinc have
the same effect; OF these latter the sulphate
of copper-the commonly known blue Wit
riol--is the most useful. The usual meth
cd Of applying these remedies is to steep
the seed in solution of the various sub
stances. The solution may be made as fol-
lows and either the one or the other may
be used as found convenient
One pound of common salt in one gallon
OF water; one pound of glauber salts in one
gallon of water; four ounces Of sulphate of
copper in one gallon of water.
| Sufficient of the solution should be made
to saturate the seed or thoroughly moisten
every grain. When the seed has stepped
for two hours it IS drained and spread upon
a floor and sprinled with dry lime in pow
der; that which has been air-slacked, by
exposure to the atmosphere in a covered
shed, until 1t falls to a fine dust, is best fit
! ted for this use. The seed is then shoveled
and stirred until each grain has been coated
with the lime. In an hour or two it will be
dry and may be sown. There are at least
| fifteen species of smut fungus known to bot
anists. The genus is known as Uredo by
some, and as Ustilago by others. The spe-
cies which attacks wheat Is known as Ure-
do Segetana, or the wheat smut that of corn
as Uredonaaydis, the maize-smut. Other
| species infest oats, barley, rye, grasses,
sedges, and reeds (or marsh grasses, So
called), and other plants. One infests the
wild onion, and the same attacks the on
ions grown in gardens The grasses most
infested are orchard grass (Dactylis .glome-
rata), and some varieties of Poa. more espe-
cially Poa aQuatsca and Poa .7auieans; but
the cultivated species of this genus, or
Kentucky blue grass. Poa prateaasis, or Poa
comprcssa, the June grass or spear grass of
our fields, are not often attacked. There
are other fungoid parasites which attack
wheat. These are mildew, rust and bunt,
thciast being a species of smut known by
| the name OF Joeiida, or sinking smut, or
bunt, from its foul smell. The first and
second are well known; the last is not SO
\ frequent, but is sometimes found in ripe
grain, which, when ground in the mill or
crushed in the fingers. appears as mass Of
black dust of disagreeable scent. All these
are subject to the same treatment as for the
prevention of smut. Sleeping is sure
remedy, and any farner who neglects to
avail himself of so simple a help should GER
tainly refrain from complaint if he finds
himself a sufferer. "Wisdom is defense. =
and if we are wise we shall defend ourselves
against this enemy, and use our influence
to prevail upon neighbors to 10 the same.
This and other evils are spread by the neg
lect OF a few, or even of one, to use reme-
dies, and the failure Of one will lead to the
stocking OF the land oi a hundred others.
who may then justly complain Of the inju-
ry.--N. Y. Times.
| -Hr--0 O.
THE statistical department Of the English
board of trade announces that the acreage
under wheat is 10 per cent. less thanin 1873: