The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-03-31
Oat smut. How to Prerent n.

An Ohio bulletin says: Farmers
who grow oats know how much grain
is at times destroyed by smut; the
amount of smut ranges from almost
nothing to one-third. or in extreme
cases even one-half. the entire yield.
On an average it is computed that
this loss is not less than per cent.
of the annual Ohio oat crop, or $780,
600 to 100000 each year. This loss is
practically all preventable by a SIM
pie method of treating the seed oats
to Kill the smut spores that are sown
with the seed only, and the Expert
ment Station has proved this method
to its entire satisfaction. This Is
known as the formalin method of Boil
low Formalin is a clear liquid, a So
luton of formaldehyde in water, and
may be purchased at drug stores for
about 80 cents per pound. Each pound
is sufficient to stir into so gallons Of
water and will treat so bushels of seed
oats: ounce is enough for 3 gallons
of water and will treat bushels Of
cats. The amount purchased will be
determined by the number of bushels
of oats to be treated. The formalin is
not poisonous, though not wholesome;
il is well to avoid smelling of the
strong solution as purchased, because
it is irritating to the nostrils. The
very dilute solution used for oat smut
is not Objectionable.
To Treat Seed Oats for Smut .-Hav-
ing the solution made at the rate of 1
ounce of formalin to three gallons of
water, well stirred and a gallon of
solution to each bushel of seed to be
treated, apply this with a sprinkling
can to the oats in piles on a tight floor
Grain piles should not exceed about
bushels and the number of piles will
follow from the amount of seed. Sprin-
kle each pile in turn, shoveling thor
oughly, knowing how much solution Is
applied; continue in each case until
the solution tends to run out on the
floor despite the shoveling. Usually
half gallon or more per bushel may
be sprinkled on the first round. when
the one pile is passed for a few min
utes while another is handled in the
same way. Upon a second sprinkling
OF each pile as much solution is used
as will be held; then with a third or
fourth repetition the gallon per bushel
may be used. After this shovel over
and leave in low fiat piles over night.
or for not less than four hours. The
SEED may then be spread thin on a
floor and shoveled over occasionally
to dry out for drilling, or it may be
soWn wet If broadcasted. If in wealth
err when proper drying of the seed is
secured, the treatment of the seed may
precede the time of sowing by some
weeks. Seed treated in this manner
is not poisonous, though scarcely suit
able to be fed to horses.
Spare the Birds.
They are among our best friends
They beautify and tighten the land
scape and fill the air with their music
not artistic like the music of man.
but, to the nature lover, incomparablv
rich. wild and thrilling. Their chief
subsistence is the insect armies that
lay waste our fields and orchards and
gardens. Early and late, dry or wet
Tor their own maintenance and that of
tnelr hungry nestlings-they remorse-
lessly thin the ranks of our insect
scourges' our love of the beautiful
as wen as SELF interest in preserving
our orchard and garden crops. should
lead us to encourage their increosa
ana save them from destructive enc
mics. enc
The great majority of several ;nseo.
tiVorous birds lay about four eggs for
sitting They sit one. two ana
sometimes even three times in a sea-
son: 1t would seem that being ms
prollnc' their numbers would RAPIDLY
ttci Ease ana they would become verv
ABUNDANT. No doubt this would be the
case were it not for the numerous err
enles that prey upon them. The enc
my most frequently mentioned hn+
comparatively harmless, is mankind
some birds are shot wantonlv, had
poSs TOD some nests-it is customary
70 can mem bad. but we think thev
are usually only the most bold and
active. and that all bows wouId rnS
the nests if they had the COURAGE ~
climb trees. Scientists. in MAKING col
Lotions kill some. But in spite Of al
TINS they would soon be in plenty IL IL
We're not for their losses from Other
sources; chiefly snakes, hawks and