Fergus County argus., 1894-03-29
Don't Sow smutty Wheat.

Under the above head the Van Du-
sem Harrington Co., prominent grain
commission dealers of Minneapolis
and Duluth, have been distributing
among grain growers of the northwest
Il card on which is printed informa-
ton as to the prevention or extermi-
nation of smut. Thinking that the
wide dissemination of this informa-
ton is desirable, the company re-
quests the Northwestern Miller to re-
print it and it is accordingly repro
duced below:
There was very large demand for
the card of instructions issued under
this head last season, and the letters
and suggestions supplied below are
compiled in the hope OF further aiding
those who fear smut and can not im-
port new and pure seed.
A. NJ. Cloyd, Edmunds county,
South Dakota, writes: "There is an
old remedy which i have used for
more than 40 years, and have never
failed with it. When we sowed small
crops OF wheat, soaking the seed to
kill smut was not impractical, but
with our hundred and thousand-acre
crops now, soaking our seed is rather
impractical. 1t is too slow a process,
and leaves our seed wet and not fit to
SOW out of seeders and drills. The
method l have used with blue vitriol
in Dakota is to dilute the vitriol and
sprinkle and stir the wheat in bin or
wagon box. Let stand over night
what you wish to sow next day. In
the spring OF 1884 my seed wheat was
smutty and l sowed 20 acres without
using vitriol Tor anything else), then
sowed 40 acres from the same seed
which doctored with vitriol diluted.
The point which l wish to show is
that it is not necessary to soak the
wheat. The much more speedy and
easy way of dampening the wheat is
Just as effectual to kill the smut"
John Eberhart, Gallatin county,
Montana: "The almost universal
method of treating seed grain in the
principal grain growing region of Gal
latin county, Montana, is called
vitrioling grain. From 12 to 20 lbs.
OF blue vitriol is used to 100 bushels
of wheat. Dissolve the vitriol by
pouring boiling water over it, or by
boiling it in water in an iron pot, then
distribute it evenly over the grain.
The most convenient way of doing
that know OF is to add a portion oi
the vitriol liquid to about q hall
barrel OF water in barrel; then, hav.
ing placed about L Z bushels of grain
in gunny or sugar sacks, soak them IN
the vitrioled water five or ten minutes
take out, let drain back into the
barrel, set aside to dry for a day OF
two, when it will be ready to SOW
Keep adding the vitriol liquor as the
water in the barrel gets weaker
Some farmers sprinkle a strong solu
tion of vitriol over the grain, ther
mix by shoveling over and over
Some treat seed oats and barley the
same"
S. W.: dissolve one pound o
pulverized bluestone (blue vitrioD il
boiling water; add water to make fiv,
gallons; spread 10 bushels grain OF
the barn floor, about four inches deep
sprinkle with the solution, using water
ing pot (painted inside and out); turI
thoroughly with shovel, sprinkl
again; turn again till all is wet; pill
up in heap, as sharp as it will stand
cover with your socks, horse blanket
or anything tight; let remain owe
night. Sow when you get ready. L
is dead shot"
William WheatIey writes concern
ing this sprinkling system: "M.
father dressed his seed wheat owe
with a mixture OF copperas. l neve
remember seeing one smut in ou
wheat, and at the same time farmer
who failed to use the remedy ha,
wheat full of smht. We used to dis
solve the vitriol with warm water il
a large pail, then put it in a sprinklin
can, spread out the wheat on a gran
ary floor and sprinkle the mixture a
over it. Two of us would then tur