The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1894-05-12
THE SMUT IN WHEAT.
Simplest and Most Universal
Method to Prevent II.
THE HOT WATER TREATMENT.

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The Montana experiment station has
just issued . bulletin on the prevention
Of smut in whest and oats. The direc-
tons are the same - those heretofore
given in these columns, but will bear r.
peating. The bluestone treatment, says
the report. il NO doubt the simplest and
perhaps the most universal method, still
it must be admitted that it Lessons in
some degree the terminating power Of
the seed. A solution made by using one
pound Of bluestone to two gallons Of wa
ter will do the work efficiently II the
grain 10 thoroughly wet up. The two
gallons will be enough for eight bushels
OF wheat; little more will be required
for the same Quantity Of oats. The So
luton may be made very rapidly by u.s.
ing warm water and breaking bluestone
into fine particles. The most practical
way Of applying the solution IL to spread
the grain on clean floor or in . tight
wagon-box and stir it constantly while
the solution ID being applied, SO that
every kernel 10 vet. II the grain il we'll
spread out after treatment, it will be
ready TO drill in . lev hours. Many FOL.
low the plan Of treating the grain each
evening for the next days sowing.
HoT-wATER TREATMENT.
This method consists in immersing the
seed for . short time in wa:e. which in
hot enough to kill the smut spores, but
II must not remain in long enough for
the heat to injure its terminating powers.
A temperature Of l33 degrees Fahrenheit
lie sufficient to kill the spores, and viii
not damage the seed in the least, If it il
not allowed to remain in the water more
than fifteen minutes. The temperature
must vary but little from this, not falling
below l30 degrees nor rising above lS5
degrees. The immersing vessel IL not
necessarily kept over . fire; the proper
temperature may be regulated BY adding
hot or cold water, - the case may re-
quire. Where . large quantity of seed
lie TO be treated the use Of second boiler
is recommended for warming the grain
preparatory to dipping into the scalding
water. 1t may be kept at q temperature
Of 10 to 80 degrees. This precaution
will prevent the sudden cooling Of the
water in the dipping tub or boiler below
the proper temperature.
A coarse gunny sack or wire basket
lined with wire netting may be used for
dipping. The grain is immersed in the
first tub only for . minute, long enough
TO warm it up to near the required tenn
perature; then it is put into the second
tub, where the temperature lie maintained
At $50 degrees, and it should remain
there not less than ten nor more than
fifteen minutes. Immediately after re-
moval it should be spread out to dry.
The same remedy will prevent loose
smut in oats, but since the spores may
lodge on the kernel under the hull Is
well rs on the outside Of the grain, . lit
tie longer immersion il necessary to kill
them. The grain should be kept in the
hot water At least twelve minutes, and
its temperature should not fall below
lS degrees Fahrenheit.