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

h'cunNnf9 6iuU III - OuIlu - VII
wheat is the result OF a parasltic 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
,ninating send minute threaal-iiKe
groWths into the TISSUES Of the Young
wheat. These thread-like stems Of
che smut plant rapidly grow, send
OFF branches and eventually some Of
these reach the grain before itripens
IN some grains these thread like
groWths OF the smut plant produce
an immense number Of spores which
fill the seed, taking the place that.
would otherwise be filled Will. gluten
and starch. Grain which are thus
filled with these spores d smut are
lighter, and 81 Il darker color than
the sound grains Of wheat and are
rather easily broken, letting the
spores Tree to be scattered through
out the mass OF grain. This smut
gives to the wheat or -four an often
sive odor, and also Injuries the color
OF the -four. Ills impossible to en-.
tirely clean smutty wheat and the
miller will not pay as high i, pricefor
grain which has the characteristic
odor by which the presence OF smut
is determined. Where smutty wheat
is soWn untreated, some Of these
black spores, attaching to the good
kernels vi wheat, grow and find their
way into the yohng wheat plants.
REMEDY
dissolve one pound Of limestone
Cooper Snlphate) in a pailful and Il
hall OF water (abont three gallons)
and sprinkle, the solution on ten
bushels OF seed wheat, previously
spread in a tight wagon box, or on
Il clean floor in barn or house, keep
ing the grain constantly stirred wl,il,
the solution is being applied, and
mixing the Whole thoroughly so that
every kernel OF wheat may wetted.
In Il very few hours the seed will be
in good condition to SOW with the
drill. A good plan is to apply tile
treatment III 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 IN /, few min
utes. As the solution of blue-stont
lessons in some degree the germinat
ing power OF the wheat, and more sc
when it remains long in contact will
it, the safe plan is to treat the sect
but a short time before sowing
AS the solution may not penetrat,
all unbroken grains OF "bunt'' in sui
ficient quantity to destroy nllspore.
thorough cleaning should be practic
ed. By using the full power OF TIL
ian OH an ordinary fanning milImos
OF these lighter "bunt'' grains vii
he blown out. Cleaning pays TO
other reasons also. A very fey
quarts more of the treated seed pc
acre should be spWn. Druggists q
grocers can purchase blue stone o
good quality OF wholesalers in st
Paul or Minneapolis so that the,
can sell it to farmers ut about tel
cents per pound.
In dry spring eathersomef;,rme
in the dry climate ut Indian Hea,
were in the habit Of making up th
solution OF the strength mentione,
and then dipping the wheat in loos
bags into the solution and letting i
dry in the bags. Tn our moister eli
mate this would probably be injlri
Gus, as in many instances tn
amount OF wat.r absorbed by TIN
wheat would probably cause it tt
! spoil unless spread out aud dried
As we IRE ;lnxions to learn AL possi
bic regarding this matter We wotl'
be pleased to get reports from an,
Who have had practical experience
WlLLET NJ. HAYS,
Agriculturist.