The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1894-04-26
DAT SMUT.

ments and Recommendations by Prof.
Kellermeu of the Ohio State University.
Repeated experiments during the
last few years have shown that OF sew
eral efficient fungicides for smut OF
oats. hot water has the preference. If
the temperature is about 1s2 degrees or
1873 degrees f.. an immersion Of fifteen
minutes will kill the adhering spores
and yet not injure the grain the least.
In fact the experiments have shown
that there is an extra increase due to
the treatment of the seed-that is, an
increase over and above that which
would result merely from the destruc-
tion of smut thereby replacing the
smutted panicles by sound ones. Our
own experiments carried on few years
ago, showed that while there was five
or six per cent of smut, the yield from
seed treated with hot water was in
creased ton to twelve per cent. When
the smut is considerable, there can be
no question as to the economy OF en-
ploying this method. even if the extra
increase were much reduced or did not
at all obtain.
The hot water treatment was intro
duced by Danish experimenter, Mr.
j. l. Jensen, of Copenhagen, and hence
Is properly called the Jensen method.
All that he claimed was substantiated
by the repeated experiments in this
country. Besides those carried on by
US and published in the bulletins and
reports Of the Kansas experiment sta.
tion, many other experimenters have
taken up the subject Numerous
farmers also have successfully em-
ployed this method
The efficiency Of the treatment
lies in the fact that infection
takes place by means of the smut spores
that adhere to the oat grains when
planted They germinate when the
oats germinate, and at once enter the
latter In this host they complete their
development and produce fruit (the
mass of smut). at the expense OF the
nourishment which the oat plant was
providing for its own growth and re-
production. The smut that may be
present in the soil does not seem in any
case to be the source OF infection.
Our experiments with oats grown In
prairie soil not previously occupied by
oats, grown also in soil to which smut
was added, and again to soil heavily
manured with barnyard manure that
contained smut, uniformly corrobor-
ated the statement Of the previous sem
tence.
The details Of carrying out the oper-
alton must vary with varying circum-
stances When two or three large ket-
! ties or boilers arc available the work
can be carried on according to the most
exacting requirements and yet with
the help of single assistant be per
| formed with ease. One vessel in this
case can be used in preliminary bath
lasting less than minute, In fact but
q few seconds, designed to bring the
temperature of the basket or bag OF
seed up to nearly that of the required
limit. The seed can then be immersed
| in the second vessel for twelve to four.
teen minutes. But care should be taken
to lift and rcp!unge the vessel several
times in the first part of the operation
and shake or twirl it, thus making
sure to bring the hot water in direct
contact with every grain OF seed.
The second vessel should contain
water raised to temperature OF about
1ss degrees or 1873 degrees-in no case
going above 135 degrees, nor falling
below 100 degrees. The first vessel
should show temperature OF 125 OF
100 degrees. Unless the preliminary
bath is given. it is found to be some
what difficult to keep the Temperature
of the water up to the required point
If q good fire is kept under the boiler
It will be easy to control the tempera
ture. This can be advantageously sup
plemented by adding dipperfuls O
cold water or hot water as needed
The immersion should continue from
fourteen to fifteen minutes When th'
seed is taken from the hot water /
should be plunged into vessel of COLI
water Immediately for a moment ant
then at once spread out to dry. 1t on
is satisfied with less cxactness, q singh
vessel may be used. In that case, hea
the water to 145 degrees, immerse tn
oats. when the temperature will fal
rapidly; but it should not go below IL
degrees. An eight or ten-minute I'm
mersion will suffice.
If steam is available, the treatmen
will be much simpiifiei. In that case
introduce the steam into the tub o
barrel of water and bring the tempera
ture to the desired point By means Q
a conveniently-placed stop-ccck it ca
be kept to about 1872 or 1873 degrees. n
preliminary bath Is needed. The in
mersion should continue only fourtce
or fifteen minutea Cool the seed ate
treatment and dry as mentioned above
Any ordinary thermometer that
known to be nearly correct or the e,
tent of whose variation is known, wi
suffice to determine the Temperature
It should be hung On the edge OF tn
vessel with the bulb dipping below tn
surface OF the water.
A loosely woven basket or iron fran
5 with handles like basket, covere
, with ordinary wire screen, such as
used for doors and windows, is foun
to be much more satisfactory than
coffee sack 1t should also have q Ii
SO that when plunged below the SUI
, face of the water the oats will nc
:, escape. 1t is better to treat no NOR
than half q bushel of seed at time.