The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1894-09-20
OAT SMUT.
A Simple and ETectual Preventive; Expert
ments and Recommendations by Prof.
keilermen of the Ohio State University.
til L.. 4

ments and Recommendations by Prof
keilermen of the Ohio State University.
Repeated experiments daring 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 122 degrees or
! 1873 degrees T., 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-
ton of smut thereby replacing the
sinutted panicles by sound ones. Our
own experiments carried on Il 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 ten to twelve per cent. When
the smut is considera BILE, 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 a Danish experimenter, Mr..
j. L. Jensen, of Copenhagen, and hence
is properly cailed the Jensen method.
All that he claimed was su 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
ton, many other experimenters have
fol. ha
farmers also have successfully en-
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 germinatc, and at once enter the
latter. In this host they complete their
development and produce fruit (the
mass of snut), at the expense of the
nourishment which the oat plant vas
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 sen.
terce.
The details of carrying out the oper-
alton must vary with varying circum-
stances. When two or three large l1et-
1o- ~ :1r1~ Il l.
can be carried on according to the most
exacting requirements and yet with
the help of a single assistant be per-
formed with ease. One vessel in this
case can be used in preliminary bath
lasting less than a minute. in fact but
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 replunge the vessel several
times in the first part of the operatio
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
1872 degrees or 1S3 degrees-in no case
going above 1S5 degrees, nor falling
below $50 degrees. The first vessel
should show a temperature of 125 or
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 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 of
cold water or hot water as needed. !
The immersion should continue from
fourteen to fifteen minutes. When the
seed is taken from the hot water it
should be plunged into a vessel of cold
water Immediately for a moment, and
then at once spread out to dry. If one
is satisfied with less S>GSactness, single
vessel may be used III that case, heat
the water to 145 degreesrimmerse the !
oats, when the temperature will fall
rapidly: but it should not go below 130
degrees. An eight or ten-minute i'm :
mersion will suffice.
If steam is available, the treatment
will be much simplified. In that case. I
introduce the steam into the tub or
barrel of water and bring the tempera-
ture to the desired point By means of
conveniently-placed stop-cock it can
be kept to about 132 or 1873 degrees. No .
preliminary bath is needed. The inn
mersion should continue only fourteen
or fifteen minutes. Cool the seed after
treatment and dry as mentioned above.
Any ordinary thermometer that is
known to be nearly correct, or the ex-
tent of whose variation is known, will
suffice to determine the temperature.
1t should be hung on the edge of the
vessel with the bulb dipping below the
surface of the water.
A loosely woven basket or iron frame
with handles like basket, covered
with ordinary wire screen, such as is
used for doors and windows, is found
to be much more satisfactory than
coffee sack. 1t should also have lid
SO that when plunged below the sur
face of the water the oats will not
escape. 1t is better to treat no more
than half bushel OF seed at time.