Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1904-09-08
keep G0OO SEED WHEAT

IhOE. II. Il. DCAAHA Va ~ = a = -
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE DIS
CUSSES THE NATTER OF GOOD
SEED WHEAT.
Prof. Bolley Of the state agricultur-
al college makes these suggestions to
farmers:
have been requested by number
of farmers to explain what effects may
be expected upon the wheat crop Of
next year because of the present seri-
Gus injury caused 10y the rust upon the
grain of this years crop. There are
numerous other questions which have
been asked which most people can
easily answer for themselves, such as
"whether rusted straw is poisonous
when fed to cattle;" whether badly
rusted straw turned under will tend
to cause the next years crop to rust, )"
etc. There is no information avail
able to indicate that rust-intected
straw is in any way poisonous IN It's
action. The straw stacks may, indeed:
this year prove somewhat more nutrl-
tious to animals than usual because OF
the fact that rust largely prevented
the straw from ripening the grain,
and thus left embodied in it more
actual nourishment. There will also,
in all probability, be more sbrunken
and shriveled grain in such stacks
than usual. Thus, in general, we be-
lieye that such wheat straw may fur
nish, perhaps more food for cattle
than in ordinary years. In regard to
the question whether plowing under
rusted straw will tend to produce
rusted crop next year, may say that
it is against all present known facts
to believe that such will be the case,
provided the soil is in such condition
as to produce thorough decaying of
the straw. The new wheat crop does
not become infected directly from the
black spores upon the old straw. 1T
seems probable that the new infection
comes each year from red rust spores
which have blown from field to field
from the south towards the north as
the crop develops.
The question as to what shall be
done for seed next year will, however,
be a serious one to many OF the farm
ers Of the state. 1t is hardly probable
that any farmer has failed to raise
seed of such quality that reasonable
crop may be expected from it provided
it is cared for and properly prepared
for seeding. This sfticle is written to
call the attention of those farmers
who have badly rusted grain to the
fact that any Slight injury Of seed
grain, such as shrinking, whether due
to being cut too green, to rust OF to
frost, results as a weak termination
and first growth. If bad weather pre-
walls Immediately following seeding
time, such weak, shriveied seed grain
will be sure to give poor crop. Rust
does not propagate by way of the seed
grain. There is thus no method OF
treating the seed grain which will
prevent the occurrence Of rust in the
crop. Because the seed which one
sows was grown upon rusted crop
is also no sign that rust will follow
it's use. One need have Slight fear OF
rust from this cause, but it is certain
that there may be great loss to the
farmers Of the state in the crop OF
1905 if they do not make special pro-
vision just at this time to procure
proper seed. Experiments made here
at the experiment station show that it
is a bad plan for farmers to continue
exchanging seed grain or to buy from
distant regions. This statement, OF
course. only holds true in case a
farmers seed grain is reasonably
mature and strong. 1t is bad plan
to depend on some one else to furnish
good type OF seed grain. If one re-
lies upon buying it from the elevators
in the spring it will certainly be OF
mixed variety. Besides, if he eX-
changes his seed every year he can
never hope to breed up strong heavy
yielding type Of wheat on his own
place. Our recommendation concern
ing what to do in this particular case
is as follows: Select the very best
piece of wheat which you have raised,
thresh when it is dry: store it dry.
grade out all the small and shriveled
grain in farming mill. Sell the
screening and keep the plumpest stuff
for seed next year. If you know that
YOUR neighbor has much better seed
grain than you have it may be wise
plan to buy some Of his best for seed.
Shriveled wheat, which is due to im-
maturity, whether caused by rust or
because cut too soon, always germi-
mates quite freely if it has been kept
dry and not allowed to heat. 1t is not