The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1901-04-16
Treatment for Smut in Seed
Wheat.
R. wINrERBeRcER. UNIV. OF Ill.

ing, ana the reproductive or spore
stages. The mycelium consists of
minute white threads filled with
protoplasm, and are invisible to the
naked eye The plant grows also
by means of slender, elongated
cells, which increase in length, di-
vlding and keeping pace with
the growth of the host plant. In
the first stage of growth the smut
does not visibly show itself in the
way of swollen or discolored tissue.
The spore stage is caused by the
collection Of innumerable mycelium
threads at one point, usually where
the blossom or seed Of the host
plant Is situated. Here they are
changed into microscopic, round,
spiny, dark spores filled with pro-
toplasm These are the seed of the
smut. In the loose smut of wheat.
these microscopic spores are de-
tatched by the wind before the un-
affectrd grain is yet mature, and in
flying about lodge in the glumes of
the unaffected heads of wheat,
where the spores terminate and
push theirmycelial threads through
the soft coats of the immature
grain. When these grains harden,
the mycelium threads becomes dor
mant until the kernel, if planted.
terminates, then the smut grows
again with the young plant This
affected seed does not show any in
difference from other unaffected
seed, and for the reason OF the
smut germ being imbedded in the
seed itself, cannot he treated sue
cessniuy, as anything that would
destroy the smut would destroy the
vitality
If the smut sporc does not get in
to the kernel of wheat it lodges in
some convenient place on the sur
face Of the seed, is planted with
the wheat, terminates about the
same time and penetrates the ten
der sprout and grows with it, but
if the spore termination is delayed
until the young plant has hardened
its outer coats a little and the
spores threads cannot enter. hay
ing nothing to live in, it dies
Wheat is more generally Smutty if
the weather is wet at the time of
termination of the grain. The
moisture makes the sprouts more
tender and fulGlls conditions for
termination and growth of the
smut spores. If the seed wheat is
permeated with mycelium, practi-
cally no treatment OF method of
treatment has any effect without
destroying the vitality of the seed.
II the spores are simply attached
to the wheat, the following treat
/ mani l., d, & eo,,,o ~. La.
NOT WATER TREATMENT
The apparatus needed for this
treatment is a 75-gal scalding ket-
tie or anything sufficient for heat
ing water, a barrel, several gunny
sacks and a thermometer. From
30 to go gallons of water should be
heated in the kettle. The wheat
should he cleaned, ready to plant,
then put one bushel in gunny
sack, tie loosely and suspend in the
water heated to 1872 to 1877 degrees
+ for about five minutes. Stir
gently, then take out and dip the
sack of wheat into the barrel of
cold water to prevent the center oil
the sack Of grain getting too hot
and injuring its vitality. The
wheat will then have to be dried to
get it in shape to be drilled. as it,
would clog up the drill if wet.
Enough can be treated tins way to
raise seed free from smut for the
next years planting Two men
can in one day treat enough to fur
nish seed for the next year
FoRMALIN TREATMENT.
The apparatus for this treatment