Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1893-03-24
Sarm Copies.
DAT SMUT,
vermont Agricultural College Builetin.l

Flrst:-llOw great is the loss in YER
mont from this disease? Second How
can this loss be reduced?
The first custom was suggested by the
following statements concerning the
loss from oat-smut in other States =
The loss from smut in New York State
has been estimated (lSS5) at 10 per cent.
of the entire crop. In Kansas OSSS-91)
the loss was estimated at 6 per cent. to
II per cent. in Indiana (lS9l) at 10 per
cent; in Michigan (lS91) 10 per cent.
in Wisconsin (lS9l) the total loss is
placed as greater than that of Michigan.
In view of these estimates the u. 5. de-
partment of agriculture in a recent bulle-
tin states that "the average loss is from .
to II per cent. in different localities in
the United States" while another good
authority, DR.. Arthur, in a recent article
states that this country loses annually
from smut ~'nearly or quite 10 per cent.
OF the total 'oat crop These figures
of the disease in our w State.
Examinations of a few oat-fields in
previous years had led us to believe that
Nermont's oat-crop suffered less from
this disease than did that of these more
Western States. In order to learn more
of the matter this past summer letters
were sent to one hundred farmers in
different parts of the State, asking that
they cut small bundles from several
parts of their oat-fields as soon as the
grain was well headed out, and send
As Il result, eighty-three samples
were received and carefully examined,
the entire work involving the handling and
counting of about 10000 heads of oats.
less than one and one half per cent.
of smut. OF the eighty-three samples
received, fifteen contained no smut at
all, and the worst smutted one contained
- per cent. This represents IA serious
loss in the aggregate, yet it is certainly
gratifying, when compared with the loss
in Western States as cited above. Some
things seem to indicate that the disease
was not so bad last summer as usual. 1t
must be left to similar examinations
IN the future to determine this.
Effort has been made to learn as far
as possible the source of the seed of
each sample examined. Full data have
not as yet been received, but so far as
reported the facts are very significant.
They show two general ources of seed
oats in Vermont-home-grown seed and
Western seed. The average of all cases
reported where Western seed was suwn
shows a little less than / per cent. of
smut. The average Of all cases reported
where Vermont seed was used shows
less than | per cent. of NUT. Later re-
ports may alter these figures somewhat,
but 1t is not probable that they will alter
the general conclusion that Vermont
seed gives a cleaner crop than Western
seed. The explanation of this fact is
simple, when We remember that this
disease comes almost entirely from the
planting of smutty seed. Very careful
study of this disease has shown thar its
occurrence is dependent upon the presence
of smut in the seed, and Is little, If at all,
affected by conditions of soil or cult
vatIon or m%anuriug.
1t follows, then. mat II we can pro-
cure clean seed We shall have a clean
crop. How can this be done? The
above conclusion as to the relative con-
ditlon of Vermont and of Western seed
is worthy the consideration of every
oat-grower. Recent experiments have
shown. also, that dipping smutty seed
oats for a few minutes in hot water
destroys every smut spore aud insures
a crop free from smut. The method is
simple and there is no expense except
the slight labor involved. Soak the seed
oats about ten minutes in water heated
to 1870 LBS F., then spread at once
where they can drain and dry as rapidly
aS possible. Each man can range
details of treatment according to his
CONFERENCE.-The following method Is
simple and good
Have a large barrel half full of water
heated to l35 o-l40o. Put half.a -bushel
of oats in a fertilizer sack and immerse
IN the water, stirring them so that they
heat through alike keep your thermom-
eter in the water. and if the temperature
remains above 1876 take the oats out at
the end of five minutes. If it falls lower
than l35 let them soak longer (ten or
even fifteen minutes. In order to con-
troll the temperature, have a good supply
of hot and of cold water handy to add as
necessary. In brief:
With temp'ture 1855 to IlOo soak 5 min.
with " 1909 to 1859 " 10 min.
with " I9So TO 1928 " II min
Below 1905 does not destroy all smut,
and soaking longer than five minutes
above l40o or l45 Injuries the seed.
There is reason to believe that this