Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1894-03-22
Smut In Wheat.

wheat is the result of a parasitic fun
gus plant which grows inside Of the
wheat and is propagated by very
minute spores. This fungus grows
into the wheat plant while the latter
IS very Young. The spores in ger
'nlnating send minute thrcaaa-iiiiiKe
groWths into the TISSUES ofthe young
wheat. These thread-like stems al
che smut plant rapidly grow; send
OH branches and eventually some of
these reach the grain before it ripens
In some grains these thread. like
@roWths OF the smut plant produce
an immense number OF spores which
I'LL the seed, taking the place that
would otherwise be filled with Gluten
and starch. Grain which are thus
filled with these spores 81 smut are
lighter, and OF a darker color than
the sound grains OF wheat and are
rather easily broken, letting the
spores free to be scattered through
out he mass OF grain. This smut
gives to the wheat or -four an Often
sive odor, and also Injuries the color
OF the flour. It's impossible to en-
tirely clean smutty wheat and the
miller will not pay rs l.igl, II pricefor
grain Which has the characteristic
odor ny which the presence of smut
is determined. Where smutty wheat
is soWn nmtreated, some of these
black spores, attaching to the good
kernels vi wheat, grow and find their
way into the Young wheat plants.
"Dissolve one pound OF .hlue-stonc
Copper Sulphate) in a pailful and II
half OF water (about three galons)
and sprinkle the solution on ten
bushels OF seed wheat, previously
spread in tight wagon box, or on
Il clean floor in barn or house, keep
ing the grain constantly stirred Will,
the solution is being applied, and
mixing the Whole thoroughly so that
every kernel OF wheat may bewetted.
In Il very few hours the seed will be
in good condition to SOW with the
drill. A good plan is to apply the
treatment lii the evening and SOW
the grain the following morning. Ii
the water is used warm and the
Jumps OF blue-stone be broken, the
solution may be made III i, few min
utes. AS the solution OF blue-stonc
lessons in some degree the germinat-
ing power OF the wheat, and more so
when it remains long in contact with
it, the safe plan is to treat the seed
but a short time before sowing"
AS the solution may not penetrate
all unbroken grains OF "bunt" in sui
ficient quantity to destroy allspores
thorough cleaning should be practic-
ed. BY using the full power OF the
ian Oh an ordinary tanning mill most
OF these lighter "bunt'' grains will
he blown out. Cleaning pays for
other reasons also. A very few
quarts more of the treated seed per
acre should be sown. Druggists or
grocers can purchase blue stone OF
good quality OF wholesalers in st.
Paul or Minneapolis so that they
can sell it to farmers 1T about ten
cents per pound.
In dry spring wea Their some farmers
in the dry climate at Indian Head
were in the habit OF making up the
solution Of the strength mentioned
and then dipping the wheat in loose
bags into the solution and letting it
dry in the bags. In our moister eli
mate this would probably be injnri-
Gus, as in many instances the
amount OF watsr absorbed by the
wheat would probably cause it to
spoil unless spread out and dried
As we are anxious to learn al posi-
bic regarding this matter we WOULD
! be pleased to get reports from any
who have had practical experience
WlLLET NJ. HAYS,
Ao.ricnltnpist