The St. Johns herald., 1900-11-03

the ranch reported that about one- third of the grain hay raised in this field had been smutted with this fungus for the past two years the seed each season having heen obtained from Indian sources. He reported still further that the seed sown had q very bad fetid odor, indicating, without much doubt, the presence of this disease.
 After making inquiries of several responsible individuals regarding the prevalence of smutty wheat, circular letter was addressed to the millers of the Territory, asking them for certain information upon the subject. Returns from these letters indicate that more er less smut is offered for sale at all the mills heard from, and the quantity varies from 2 to 20 per cent of the total amount purchased In one instance fully one.half the four ground is reported tn be dark with smut. One correspondent reports wheat to be injured to the extent of 50 per cent of it's value for mill- ing purposes, while another speaks of wheat offered for sale which he refuses to buy at any price. The returns show stiil further that all but one oi the Indian tribes in the Territory invariably raise smutty wheat Our own observations re garding crops raised from seed bought ot them indicate that there are some cases in which their crops are in very deplorable condition indeed.
 Smut is caused by a parasitic fungus, the spores of which may be found in the hairy ends" of the kernels of smut" wheat. These spores germinate at the same tune as the wheat and send small tubes into the young plants. These de- velop and grow apace with ihe wheat the entire season; but can- not he seen, except by the aid nt a microscope. until the berry begins to form, when the fungus di>tnrts the kernel and fills if with smutty mass of spores covered with a thin shell. When this shell is broken by threshing. theTposesare set free and cling to the hairy ends" of the healthy berries, where they are again re5d Id produce ae mother crop af-smp i'aex @'- n.
 rherr arr. n~ pi4 isen -omp nf thrn oscuri,ea te, Ariz" which baffl..i every ":trmp "f ti'" inv+s,iga nr tn subdne. Some have received h,U ht,lo astcutir'a, and Y i~ h"Pe,i future investigates mas lriny thrm under eonirui. rht-' ;ar,s. however ,i1 liot '1ris i" ths .'-,iuking smut nf wD"ai tor |. has been demons;saie,i repe''iedis that cert, in treatment will 'lestr", the fungus which cau<es this dis ease. There is. therefore itr good reason why the farnre should g. o,ssraising smuity wheat year arf,e' year when little time and lat'snet will increase bis crops and furnish him more marketable returns fol his labors.
 The remedy is simple and easily applied. Any farmer can, hv Px' I
 penditure ofa very small amour i of money, treat his seed whe"' in a manner that will insure hi~ crop against an attack of this fn,gIis He needs for this operaupn f"ur things: Limestone or copper ~ul- phate. good quality of lime. some large vessels which will hold water, such as tubs or barrels, and q place to spread his wheat out to dry when he is thru treating it.
 The operation is as follows: O."
 pound of copper sulphate is dissnlv led in 24 gallons of water. The
 seed is soaked in this solution to,
 12 hours, after which the liquid is
 drained of, and the seed is again
 soaked for 10 minutes in lime-wate'
 made.b by slaking one pound of lime
 in 10 gallons of water. After dry.
 ing, the wheat can be sown at any time without any danger from the
 effect of smut.
 The process tabulated is af 1 follows ]. Soak seed for 12 hours in copper sulphate solution. 2 Soak seed for 5 to 10 minutes ir lime water. 3. Dry the seed 4
 coy t,a saad The obiec, in dry.