Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-01-31
smut In wheat and oats.


pccted OF containing any germs OF
smut il should be put through "A treat
ment with copper sulphale (blue vitriol
or blue stone but not copperas. which
is a different substance and ineifective)
or with hot wafer The copper snl
phate treatment consists in dipping the
seed into solution ot one pound tc
one gallon Of water l.tting 1t remain
five minutes with constant stirring t.
wet the grain evenly, and then spread
ing on floor TO d., OF Shuyeliug over
with the addition to land plaster and
Stacked iime until dry. The method
Is not troublesome or costly and Is
effective. The treatment will prevent
all or nearly all occurrence of smut in
the crop following; il will also. how.
ever somewhat rolard the early growth
OF the grain and may somewhat de.
crease the Yield a test of the mo-,
water and copper sulphato methods
applied to oat was carried out on thc
Purdue Und.( University Station farm
under the supervision Of Professor w
G, Latla. The facilities for making
the tests were only such us any iarmei
has mt hand, the work being done b,
the farm labnrers. who are OF the same
class OF workmcn That are employed
on other farms. Although the process
is n very simple one. vet description
OF the exact method of handling the
seed may be- OF service 10 others who
contemplate HE treatment OF their own
seed grain. Professor Laim has writ
ten out the following account of the
work done on the station farm: I'm
treating oat seed last spring we used
cold rain water with one pound of cop.
per sulphatc to one gallon OF water 4
common Washlub was filled about two.
thirds with water, and enough finely
powdered copper sulphate put in to
give the strength just stated A buShel
OF seed wheat was put into coffee
sack (aRy sack made of coarse open
cloth will dog tied near The top OF the
sack and immersed five times ia the
copper sulphatc solution, turning and
kneading HE sack so as to thoroughly
wet nll tie seed. The sack was then
placed on bars across the top Of the
tub TO drain minute. after which the
seed was spread thinly on an airy
lloor. The process was repeated with
another bushel Of seed and So on until
enough had been treated. To hasten
the drying and prevent much swelling
of the seed 1t was busted heavily and
repeatedly with land plaster (pul-
vcrized air-sacked lime will answer as
weld, and mixed thoroughly. 1t is
we'll 10 continue the stirring every few
miautes for few hours, and If the
seed can hc exposed meanwhile to the
sun. or to a good current of air so
much the better As each busho will
take up u part Of the solution, it must
| be rcpieuishvd from time tc time, add
ing both wlter aud copper sulphate in
Z the proper proportions. BE sure that
/ the copper sulphatc is finely powdered
| or the solution will te too weak int first
I and too strong toward the last. A man
| and boy can treat SIX or eight bushels
| of seed in ap hour. In treating with
[ hot water we filled two wash tubs No.
! ! ut l2j degrees to 1870 degrees fahrcn-
| hcit and No. ut 1870 degrees TO 1873
( degrees fahrenheit Cine pfeSent sea-
: sons results show that the water IN tub
/ No. 2 should have been kept nearly
\ live degrees houer.) The seed inciosed
/ in sack as in copper sulpbate treat
ment was immersed in tub Nh ], then
( drained few seconds aud immersed
/ five minutes in tub No. 2, The first
/ tub was used simply 70 warm the seed
and prevent reducing the temperature
/ below 1870 degrees in the second tub
/ The seed was spread aEi dried as in
I the treatment with copper suphate.
I Care must be taken TO add hot water
from tne to time 10 maintain the