The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1897-05-04
rREvEyrINo snur VIE Hor pArEn.

PREVENTING SMUT WITH HOT WATER.
The smut diseases OF small grains
are minute parasitic plants, which
grow inside the grain plant and como
to maturity in the kernel. The spores
or seeds cannot live through The win.
ter in orupon the open grounl. hence,
the disease Is propagated by germs,
which adhere TO the seed grain. A
large loss Is caused annually by the.
presence OF these smuts, which can he
prevented by immersing seel in hot
water kept at u temperature OF 1870 to
1873 degrees. The time of exposure
will depend upon the grain being
treated
The process of treatment is very
simple. Place n large iron kettle in
position So that fire can he started
under it. At the right and slightly to
the rear. place barrel which will hold
water. sinking it into the ground about
half way. Place another Mt the left
of the kettle and to the rear, leaving
sufficient space between the two bar
rels Tor standing. Still back OF the
second barrel. place bushel basket
upon some kind of support so thai
the water may drain from it freely.
Directly over these barrels aud kettle,
erect tripod, made by fastening three
2xi scantlings or poles together at
one end by means OF chain and
spreading them apart at the bottom.
From this suspend rope and at the
lower end of tho rope attach lever
and to tue short end OF the lever a
vessel, in which the grain is to be
placed Tor immersion in the water
Fill the barrel to the right over half
full with water and keep it at tenn
perature of ITO to 100 degrees. In
the kettle keep the water at 100 to 1873
degrees In the barrel to the left have
cold water.
Place the grain to be treate in the
vessel on the end of the lever. This
vessel must have cover to prevent
the grain getting out. Immerse it in
the barrel OF warm water. Churn the
vessel NJ and down until every portion
of the grain has been wetted. Lift
| the basket from the water and hold il
for few moments until il has drained
slightly, then shift it over and im
merse in the kettle where the wafer is
ut temperature OF 40 to 1913
degrees. When treating oats allow to
remain In the hot water for ten min
utes. The sinking smut of wheat re-
quires the same treatment as oats, ex
oept that the grain should be placed
in vessel of cold water first and the
smutty grains which float on top,
SKINNED off before treated with hot
water. Barley requires an immersion
OF only five minutes at 100 degrees.
After the grain has remained in the hot
water for the prescribed time, lift uu
and allow to drain, then immerse in the
barrel of cold water on the left. Allow
it to remain here for few moments
until the temperature is lowered, so
that there will be no danger of injury
to the grain. Then, empty the grain
| into the bushel bask ct and let it drain.
II it is to be sown at once, take direct
to the field, but if not, spread on a
barn floor where there is good ventila-
tion and stir occasionally until thor
oughlY dry.
The object OF Immersing in the first
barrel is simply to warm the grain up
to somewhere near the temperature of
the water in the kettle. When 1t be-
comes lower than 40 degrees, raise it
by adding hot water. The exact tenn
perature OF the water in the kettle, or
scalding vessel, is of great importance
and must lie closely watched. If IT
gets above 1873 degrees there is great
danger Of injuring the germ of the
seed, and IL below 1870 degrees the
smut germs will not be killed. Attach
n good thermometer to paddle and
use this to stir the water frequently.
Keep close watch OF the mercury and
see that it Is at the proper point. In
reading, keep the bulb under the
water, for if taken out, the evapora.
tion will cause n sudden falling. To
keep the temperature ut the proper
point, have fire under the kettle
| which can be Increased or decreased at
/ will. a special vessel for holding the
/ grain during treatment can be pre-
pared, the principal point 90 be OBJ
served being that 10 have n cover and
/ That IL be ms open as possible, so that
the water will pass IN and out freely.
| a cOarse E.sIy sack Is frequently
used, but a milk can, with large
/ number OF holes two or three inches
/ in diameter and the entire inside lined
with wire mosquito netting, is prefer.
I able.
This treatment is so simple and so
elective that IL should he applied in
MI cases where smut is suspected.
Every farmer has large iron kettle
and barrels. In feet, everything
necessary for tho process. The grain
can be treated during the early spring
days, and will then be ready for uso
when needed, or it can be tTeatt.l just
before seeding -American Agricul-
turist.
ia Greece, teachers contribute i've
per cent. on the salaries, aud the state
finds the remainder, in order 20 super.
annuGte teachers after iwenty-une