Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1892-11-25
SMUT OF OATS And WHEAT.
Cost the Michigan Farmers More
Than 81, 100000 This Year.

parts of the State, calling attention to
the great damage done by the smut OF
oats and wheat Especially the former)
and asking for remedies. The loss to
Michigan farmers in the oat crop last
year, by smut, was probably not less
than 100000, and this year it exceeds
that amount by at least 100000. In
all the communications which | have
received this year from different parts
of the State where actual counts have
been made the percentage of smut.
in no case, has been less than S per
cent, and in many cases 1T reached as
high as 2Oper cent, averaging about 10
per cent.
The extent of loss by smut is seldom
appreciated until an actual count is
made. The smutted stalks are shorter
than the others and before the oats are
ripe the smut is blown away, leaving
the bare stalk, which will not be
readily noticed.
In every case where the farmer has
estimated from to per cent of smut
in his oats, actual count has shown
from 10 to ID Der cent.
The hundreds of experiments conduc
ted at Kansas, Indiana and other eX
pertinent stations with treated and I'M
treated seed sown side by side have
shown the practical value of this
method.
Prof. Swiugle aud Prof Arthur tell
me that the farmers who have tried
it in Kansas and Indiana are enthusiast
tic in its favor Had all the farmers
of Michigan treated their seed last
Spring, there would have been saved
to the State more than a million of
dollars. The farmers who raised 20
acres OF oats with straw promising 80
bushels per acre, received out 40. In
other words the farmer loses 100
bushels of oats. This is a low estimate,
for in no case where farmers actually
counted the smutted stalks did the per
cent fall below s, and in many cases it
reached 20.
Do not conclude that you have 10
smut because you did not see it. In
the case OF oats the smut is mostly
blown off before harvest and the smut
ted stalks being shorter than the
healthy ones are not observed.
Method of Infection of Wheat and Oats.
The spores (seed of the smut attach
themselves to the kernels OF wheat or
oats aud are sown with them. When
the kernel of wheat or oats terminates
the smut spores also terminate and
enter tho young plant, growing and
subsisting OH the inside of the plant
until finally, when the head appears,
1t is smut instead of wheat or oats. 1t
has cost nearly or quite as much to
grow the affected plant rs a healthy
one. We ask for bread and receive
smut. Certain conditions of soil or
weather may be more favorable TO the
growth of smut than others, but let it be
distinctly understood that It's presence
is not due TO any condition of soil or
weather. We SOW smut and we reap
smut. In the case of oats the wind
may carry the loose, powdery smut
over the fields and the spores become
attached TO the kernels of oats. These
spores are 50 small that they cannot
be seen with the naked eye unless
there are many together, but they
are there ready TO grow when the oats
are sown. But probably the threshiing
machine is the most effective way of
OF bringing the spores OF smut into
contact with the wheat and oat seed.
A single kernel may have thousands OF
these spores attached TO it yet not be
observed. The threshing machine be-
comes ready means OF carrying the
smut from the one farm to another. 1t
has been found that these adhering
spores may be killed by dipping the
seed into hot water for few minutes,
and not injure the vitality of the seed.
This method, known as the Jensen or
hot water method, was discovered by
j. l.. Jensen, of Denmark, in 1887.
Method of Treatment for Wheat and
Oats.
The farmer may use his ingenuity in
IN no of II 10 hoo
oats, and use what ever conveniences
he has at hand-anyway, so that he
accomplishes the desired result.
One way we find convenient is to
have kettle in which to heat the
water quite hot. say 1862.
Near this kettle place barrel in
which 20 treat the seed. Fill this
barrel about one half full of hot water
FROM the kettle and then by adding
either hot or cold water, the temper
ature of the water in the barrel may
be kept at the desired height.
Into this barrel dip the seed.
The dipping is easily done by placing
about bushel of seed into coarse
gmpp sack and fasten this sack TO one
end Of long pole hung across a
notched post.
The seed should be kept moving all
the time while in the hot water and
and by using the pole this is easily
done
Oats may be treated just before
sowing.
After taking them out of the barrel
OF hot water il is best to throw cold
water over them TO cool them off, and
then let them stand and drain two or
three hours after which they may be
sown broadcast.
Wheat dries much more readily, SO
if spread out Immediately after treat
ing and left to dry a few hours, it can
then be sown broadcast or in a force
feed drill.
AS the grains will be considerably
swollen after their treatment it is
we'll to regulate the drill to feed from
one to two pecks more per acre than
with dry seed.
II will readily be seen that this
method is in the reach Of every farmer,
All that is required is one kettle
one or two barrels and corse sack.
Two men In one day can treat enough
oats to SOW 20 acres and enough wheat
to SOW 40 acres.