, 1903-03-23
R0WER
OF GRAIN IN WYOMING SUFFER
SERIOUS LOSS FROM SMUT
IN WHEAT.
Press Bulletin No. is, BY Prof. q. c.
euffum, Agriculturist Of the Agri-
cultural Experiment Station
Smut Caused BY Tiny Black
Spores Which Cling to Seeds.


the Wyoming agricultural experiment
station prepared by Prof. B. C. Bufum,
agriculturist of the station, has been
issued. 1t is entitled, How To Pre-.
vent Smut in GRAIN" and gives a brief
summary OF the investigations report.
ed in detail:
Smut in wheat and oats causes seri.
GUS loss to Wyoming grain growers.
Sometimes the loss amounts to two
thirds or three-fourths the entire crop
and in such instances the small
amount of grain obtained has little
market value. The trouble is easily
overcome INC it is dollars in the peck
ct Of every man who raises wheat or
oats to treat his seed to prevent the
disease. 1t costs from two cents to
five cents per bushel or from four
cents to ten cents per acre to treat the
ly and carefully done the resulting
crop may be increased in value from
four dollars to eight or more dollars
per acre.
Smut is caused by tiny black or
brown spores which cling to the seed
or which may remain in the ground
over winter. When the seed germin-
ates the spores also grow, and send a
minute thread up in the grain stalk to
the head, where it destroys the ker-
nels Of grain, producing spores in
stead. Anything which will kill the
spores on the seed without injuring
the termination of the grain will i'm
prove the quantity and quality of the
crop. providing the treated seed is
planted on and which has not grown
smutty grain for n or two years. We
recommend any one of the following
four methods:
1.-JENsEN HOT WATER TREAT
MENT.
This is generally recommended as
the best method. You must have a
good thermometer to test the temper
aturcs. The water may be heated in
any convenient way. Have the water
l25o to 1905 F. and in the second bar
rel at a temperature of 1929 to 1895
+. Put the grain in a wire basket or
igunny sack, having it only partly trll
so the grain can be all shaken apart
when in the water. Dip into the first
barrel for three or four minutes to
thoroughly warm it. Then dip 1t at
once into the second barrel, subiecting
the grain to the temperature of 1922
to 1889 for ten minutes, shaking about
so all the grain will become warmed
to the temperature of the hot water.
Lift out of water, drain and spread out
to dry before sowing. Be very careful
with the temperature of the water. II
it goes above 134o or 1859 the grain
will be injured and If the seed treated
is not heated to 1929 the spores will
not be killed. Do not leave in the wa
ter more than ten minutes. Have eight
or ten times as much water as the
amount of grain dipped at a time and
have hot and cold water at hand to
add in order to keep proper tempera-
ture while grain is being dipped.
ISend for Wyo. Exp. Sta. Bull. 21.l
"COPPER" sULPHATE OR BLUE
STONE.
a.-Dissolve one pound copper sui
phate in 5 gal. water by hanging a
sack containing 1t in the top of a bar
rel or tub until the sulphate is all dis
solved. Dip the grain in this solution
for two or three hours and then spread
out to dry.
b.--A safer method.-Dissolve one
pound copper sulphate in 20 gal. water
and let grain soak 2 hours. Then dip
in solution of one pound lime to 10 gal.
water for five or ten minutes and
spread out to dry.
s.-PoTAssiUM sULPHi0E FOR
OATS.
a.-Dissolve 2 pounds potassium sui
phide In 20 gal. water and soak seed
10 or IL hours. Then dry SO the oats
can be planted with drill or otherwise.
b.-Dissolve 1 pound potassium sui
phide in 20 gal. water and soak the
oats "a hours, and dry. This is an ex-
.cellent method.
4.-FoRMALiN FOR WHEAT OR
OATS.
a.-Pile the grain on a floor where
it can be shoveled over or stirred. Mix
one pound of Formalin (Formalde-
hyde) in SO gal. water and sprinkle
over the grain with a hand or garden
sprinkler, stirring the grain until 1t is
all wet.
b.-Mix one pound of formalin with
100 gal. water and dip the grain in 1t
until 1t is thoroughly saturated.
Spread out to dry or plant at once.
Formalin must be used with great
care for If used in too strong solution
or the grain left in too long it will de-
stroy its terminating power.
GENERAL CAUTION.
In our experiments We have found
that the terminating power Of seed
wheat or oats raised at high attitudes
is quite easily injured. In treating
1t more than ordinary care must be
taken. In using above methods with
grain raised above $500 feet altitude.
be sure that the water does not get too