Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1905-12-15
.- 49,. <.21.,.- -. ~
SMUT PREVENTED
Expert Gives Farmers Ad-
vice About Seed
Wheat

no higher authority in the northwest
if there is in the world. upon smut.
rust and other diseases Of plant life,
than Prof. Henry L. bolley. of the
North Dakota Experiment station.
Professor Bolley's discoveries In fax
wilt al0ne-cause, cures, etc have
gone around the world. and 1t is esti-
mated have already been worth to the
northwest, millions of dollars. In re-
ply TO our request for his views upon
the question, nos being raised by 60
many, as to whether formaldehyde
treatment of seed is = sure preventa-
tive Of smut. We have received from
thu profts sor the following most en-
phatic reply.
Editor Dakota Farmer: In reply to
your favor OF late date relating to the
treatment Of seed grain, will say.
that there may be some farmers, In.
deed, a good many. In the states Of
North and South DAKOTA, who do not
treat their seed grain, and yet, never
theless, do not have any smut in the
crop. I would beg leave TO call. atten-
ton to the fact that these are farmers
who have always taken care OF their
seed grain: in most cases they have
probably raised their own seed. Thus.
never having rad any smus on their
farms, ore ought not expect them to
have it. This will explain why 1t
is that some men who do not treat,
yet have good, clean crops. some.
times the time at which the crop Of
untreated grain is put into the
ground, and the condition of the
ground at termination time is such
that the following crop does not show
much smut. sometimes q crop may
be very smutty; that is. the wheat
plants may be thoroughly attacked
by the smut fungus, yet II certain
weather conditions at the ripening
time are just right no smut may ap-
pear in the head. 1t may, however
greatly reduce the yield from such
q field by shriveling tho grain.
Many persons think If they throw a
few pals of water and few pounds
Of copper sui phate, or throw few
pailfuls of the formaldehyde treating
solution upon pile Of smutty seed
grain, and roughly shovel it over that
they have peen treating the grain.
Naturally such treatment will not
prevent smut. In order to prevent
smut, the right strength of solution
must be used, and the work done 80
carefully that all Of the grains of the
wheat or oats have been thoroughly
enveloped in film of moisture which
will kill the spores.
Much harm mas been done to the
theory of seed grain treatment by the
sale Of poor copper salphate. chemi-
Cal which is sometimes over one-half
iron sulphate, and also by the sale of
formaldehyde. which has very often
than one half strength. Farmers
strong as one pound of formaldehyde
to forty-five gallons OF water. By
pound If iormaldehyde, I mean 16
ounces avoirdrpois Of liquor. not six.
teen ounces of liquid and bottle
com binea. The grain may be treated
in any manner desired, but it is wise
to thoroughly clean and grade it
before the treatment Then see to 1t
that each and every grain has had a
chance to become wet It makes nc
difference whether one dips, sprinkles,
sprays. or shovels over the grain, it
must be done thoroughly.
That such treatment will result in
successful crop, I have never failed
to be atle to verify, having run
many Treatments every year for fifteen
consecutive seasons. If any farmer in
Minnesota or South Dakota doubts
the efficacy Of this eatment. let him
ty it himself or write to any of the
we'll known farm superintendent Of
North Dakota. There are practically
none of the large farmers in this state.
who have been farming mere since
1890, that are not firm believers in
this worK and who have net many
times verified it by successful trials.
1 think any doubter will get cour-
teous letter from the superintendent
of the Casselton. Dalrymple farm the
Grandin- Mayville farm, or from the
manager of the extensive Larimore
farm at Larimore.
I am not in the habit Of thus re-
ferring correspondents to special
farmers but name these farmers on
the spur of the moment, thinking
that this question Of grain treatment
is one of such vital importance to the
farmers of the northwest that they
may we'll take counsel with one an
other In such matters. AS for myself,
I will make the following broad as
sertion. that from any sample of vi.