The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-03-29
HOW TO KILL SMUT.

I'VE nave had most success by dip
ping for five minutes in q solution
made at the rate Of one pound OF cop
par sulphate to two gallOns of water,
and then wetting the wheat with a
weak solution Of lime water, then
drying by shovellinR. The object of
the lime water being to counterfeit
the copper sulphate to prevent injury
to the germ In no form. however,
IS the copper solution to be recon-
'nended asagainst the hot water treat
,nent, recommended, immersing the
iced grain in gunny sacks or wire bask-
cts q period Of five to eight minutes
a water at the temperature Of 1873 to
1856 degrees fahr. For this purpose a
very much larger vat is needed In Da-
kota seeding than is usually RECON-
mended by eastern writer's. We re-
commend u large wooden vat holding
200 gallons of water. or more. associat-
ed with large iron kettles for heating
the water. tits easier to keep u large
body Of water ut the proper tempera-
ture than small one. To dry, treat
rs fast as possible 10 large quantities,
and then keep shovellIng until SUM-
GENTLY dry to work In the seeder next
lay. Two men can easily treat so to
100 bushels per day. Wheat is iniur-
I'd by remaining damp, SO the rule
should be to seed all in one day that
was treated the day before, whether
you use copper sulphste or the hot
water treatment. The chief dificul-
ty In either treatment is found In the
swelling Of the grain, SO that a few
quarts more per acre should be sown
chan usual with dry grain.
H..L. B0LLEY, NJ. s., Fargo.
ANOTHER WAY.
"Dlssoive one pound Of bluestone
"copper" sulphate) In a pail and a half
of water (ahout three gallons) aud
sprinkle the solution on ten bushels
of seed wheat, previously spread In
tight wagon-box, or on q clean floor
IN barn or house, keeping the grain
constantly stirred while the solution
is being applied, and mixing the whole
thoroughly go that every kernel Of
wheat may be wettcd. In very few
hours the seed will be in good condi-
tion to SOW with the drill. A good
plan is to apply the treatment in the
evening ana SOW the grain the follow
Ing morning. II the wateris used
warm and the Jumps of bluestone be
broken, the solution may be made In
i few minutes. As the solution Of
bluestone lessons in some degree the
terminating power Of the wheat, and
more so when it remains long In con.
tact with 1t, the safe plan IS to treat
the seed but short time before SOW
ing. Asthe solution may not pene-
trate all unbroken grains OF "smut"
In sufficient quantity to destroy all
spores, thorough cleaning should be
practiced. By using the power Of the
fan on an ordinary tanning mill most
of these lighter ''smutn grams will be
blown out. Cleaning pays for other
reasons also. A very few quarts more
Ut the treated seed per acre should be
sOwn.
WILLET n. HAYS, AgriculturIst. {"
ANOTHER PLAN.
Lime will kill smut in wheat, and
IL is much less labor to use it than
sulphate Of copper. Tits not neces.
sary to wet the grain. To wet ana
dry several hundred, perhaps several
thousand. bushels. the quantity that
some western farmers SOW, Is tu.
much labor. Since coming to Dakota
l have learned that smut can be pre.
vented by mixing lime With dry wheat.
Spread the wheat five or six inchc.
deep on the barn or granary flour.
Sprinkle over 1t . small quantity d,
fresh Stacked limo. Ihave never inca.
sured IL and do not know just how
much should be used on Q given guam.
tity Of grain, bnt think three or fou,
quarts 10 SUFFICIENT for ten bushels.
Shovel 1t over two or three times, or
until every grain is Toured with lime.