The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1904-02-03
EMDEAv0R TO ERADICATE
THE SMUT IN GRAIN
A Large Percentage of Wheat Re-
iected at Tacoma-Experiment
Station Takes rlatter Up

The Washington agricultural expert
ment station, through r. Kent Beattie.
assistant botanist, is working with a
view to graduating smut in wheat and
oats, says the Tacoma Ledger. This
serious disease, which has assumed the
proportions of problem, with which
producers are confronted, is causing con-
siderable loss to farmers.
Mr.. Beattie has written to State
Grain Inspector J. W. Arrasmith. ask
ing him to furnish records of his Office
showing the smut conditions of the
crops in the various counties in late
years. In addition to this, Mr.. Beattie
has submitted to grain warehousemen
throughout the state plank forms on
which to record their estimates of the
smut loss. He reports that he has re-
ccived considerable encouragement from
the warehouscmen in the work, who,
besides furnishing the desired informa-
ton. have volunteered to render what
ever assistance lie, in their power in
fighting the disease.
Inspection of grain at Tacoma this
season proves that a large percentage OF
it has been rejected on account of smut.
This has occasioned considerable loss
to farmers. and the elevator companies
are naturally interested in the move
ment of the agricultural experiment sta
ton to encourage the use of clean seed
by Washington wheat producers Mr..
Arrasmith SAYS that the farmers of this
state are alive to the situation, and he
added that ninetynine out of every
hundred farmers take special precautions
to guard against damage and loss on
account of smut. Seed is subjected to
test before being sown, the test consist
ing of dipping in solution of blue
stone, lime, hot water and formalde-
hyde This method of treatment is said
to be the most effective of any, and is
now used most extensively. One drug
firm alone in Spokane last year sold five
carloads of bluestonc to the farmers of
eastern Washington, says Mr.. ARA
smith.
Wheat infested with smut costs the
farmers large fortune every year. ow-
inv to the fact that it causes a lower
ing the grade from bluestem to be re-
iccted
Deputy State Grain Inspector S. 5.
King states that nearly all wheat re-
ceived at Tacoma for inspection this
season was somewhat infested, but not
all of it seriously. He advises the sow
ing of nothing but clean seed wheat.
Soft or bin burned wheat and dark or
scaly colored flax net loss to the far
mcr, he says whereas a little care in the
selection of only the best varieties
would obviate a great deal of annoyance
and at the same time produce satisfac-
tory grading. Light sunken or weak
seed should be avoided. while the best
varieties. he says. are those which ex-
perience has taught are adapted to the
locality in which it is proposed to use
them. and which have been produced I'M
der favorable conditions.
Farmers have iearne,; that there is al
ways more smutty wheat produced in
the fall than in the spring, as it is
grown under more favorable weather
conditions in the later season. Spring
sown wheat is said to invariably sprout
Immediately and TO attain a quick
healthy growth, while fall sown wheat
is harrassed by unfavorable soil condi-
tions, which retard its growth. 1t is
said to be deemed poor economy by ex-
perienced farmers to retain for seeding
purposes the inferior varieties, when
the quality of the crops depends SO
much on the quality of the seed sown.
Commenting on the efforts of the
Washington Agricultural Experiment
station to drive out the disease, Mr.
Beattie says that the work has been in
progress for two or three years and has
now reached point where he thinks the
efforts are beginning to produce the de-