The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1905-08-01
THE FIELD
Dat Smut and Its Damage.
Edgar G. Richey.)

mucn damage TO the Oat crop OF the
country as the SHUTS. The smut OF
oats is more widely distributed than
almost any of the other plant para
sites. 1t is known on every continent,
and occurs all over the United States.
Fields entirely free from it are rare;
and the aggregate amount OF damage
which it does is very great. Few farm
erS who grow oats every year have
any adequate conception of the extent
of the ravages OF this pest. Professor
kellerman and Mr.. Swingle have esu-
mated that the actual loss in Kansas
from oat smut from 1888 to 1890 was
at least $2,144,1S1; the percentage OF
smutted heads varying from 6.5 to 10
per cent. A conservative estimate OF
the direct loss caused by smut would
pe 8 per cent of the crop, and at this
estimated the loss in the United States
alone would be over $18,O0OOOO an
nually.
Not many farmers who grow oats
would think that the black dust that
replaces the entire head of the Oat
plant, was definitely organized plant;
but as a matter of fact this black dust
is composed of many minute spores
of parasitic plant known to botanists
as ErstilagO avenae. These spores,
which have the same function as the
seeds of higher plants, are very small
and light and are easily blown about
by the wind, thus providing for the
distribution of the parasite. Inc
spores lodge on the healthy kernels
where they remain until the seed
terminates, when they also become
active and send down their hyphal
threads into the young plant. Inc
hvphae first enter the leaf sheath ana
pass from that into the first green ZEAL
then into the second and so on, mus
keeping even with the grown OF tne
nlant until the haulm or head Is
reached. The presence OF the para
site cannot be detected until the
head is found and the smut begins TO
replace the kernels. Even then II IS
sometimes difficult, as one variety OF
the smut is entirely within the kernels.
This form is known as hidden smut
and the other form, which attacks Ine
outer chaff as well as the Kernel Is
called the loose smut.
Several remedies, which are found
10 be equally effective on both loose
and hidden smuts, have been trlea
for checking and eradicating THIS pest
Most of the remedies now In use give
very good results and are worthy VI
trial by the farmer.
One of the early treatments and one
which gives satisfactory results ls
the formalin treatment. This conslsts
in soaking the seed oats for two hours
in a solution of pound of formalln IN
5000 gallons of water. The CONNER
cial formaldehyde which is about AZ
per cent pure should be used as
stronger solution than this wouio pe
poisonous.
Potassium sulphide is also extern
sively used in combating smut. In
this treatment ~ pounds of liver OF
sulphur is dissolved in 25 gallons OF
water. The seed is soaked in this
solution for "a hours, with frequent
agitations The seed may be soaked
for two hours in a solution of pounds
of liver of sulphur in so gallons OF
water. This method is almost, II not
entirely as effective as the other; but
is more expensive and when time VIII
permit the former is to be recon-
mended.
The cheapest remedy and one which
gives the best results from all stand
points is known as the hot water treat
ment. If facilities can be secured for
keeping the water at constant tenn