Milford chronicle., 1905-08-11

quently overlooked, and it is only when the
disease iufiicts the heavier damages that AT
tention is drawn to II. But as the profits OF
agriculture are dependent upon the preven-
tion OF even small losses. and as the remedy
for the prevention OF smut Is so inexpensive
and so easily applied, the treatment ofseed
wheat and oats should become regular pro-
cedure with the farmer.
Smut 10 wheat and oats appears In two
forms, the "loose smut" and the "hidden
| smut"
In the loose smut both grain and chan are
converted into a black or dark powder II is
the most readily recognized on account OF
the head or panicle being converted into
back mass of Spores
| In the hidden smut only the grain or ker-
mel is converted Into powder and the chaif
is generally not attacked. This smut is less
evident to the superficial observer but be-
comes so when the grain is crushed, and the
kernel found to be black. The hidden smut
OF wheat commonly has disagreeable oder.
and has hence been called "stinking smut"
sometimes "bunt."
When grain is threshed the spores Of smut
ted heads are blown about aud many of them
become attached to sound grain, so that one
is never sure of getting seed grain free from
smut spores. When such infected seed is
sown the attached smut spores germinate and
the fungus enters the yOung plant and as the
fungus SO far as we know enters IN no o her
way, the best plan is TO treat the seed so as 10
kill these attached smut spores.
That this method is effective has been dem
onstrated by repeated experiments. Origi
nally the seed was immersed In a solution OF |
copper sulphate, but this chemical has since /
been discarded owing to the fact that solu |
ttOus OF The proper strength were found to /
{, juie the termination OF the seed. This /
was followed by the Jenses hot water treat
.nent which consists in immersing the seed |
for certain length oftime IN water Of given
temperature. This method while still eff
cient is more troublesome and uncertain Of
application than the fronaline treatment 10
be described.
Formaine is a commercial product, and is
sold as 40 per cent. solution Of formalde hyde
gas ia water 10 can be obtained from or
through any local druggist. The cost whole
sale, IN carboy lots of Is pounds is between Is
and 70 cents per pound. 1t small lots at re
tail 1t will cost about twice this or about s.
cents per pound. The solution to use con-
tains one pounG OF the 20 per cent formalde-
hyde in 50 gallons OF water. It is used at the
rate af about % gallons of the solution to
each 100 bushels ofseed. Thus the cost Of ma
.erial will not exceed 20 cents for 100 bushels
Of seed treated.
The following method OF treatment is ap. ]
picabe for smut OF oats and the hidden
smut OF wheat
Place the seed 10 be treated on a clean floor {
md with an ordinary sprinkling pot spriu-
Sle the seed with the fOrmaldehyde solution, /
tirring with shovel after successive addi- Z
ions until the whole is uniformity moist,
rarely moist enough to hold together when &
hacked in the hand. Then shovel together O.
nto a pile, cover the pile with canvas or o
acks and let it remain for several hours,
rhen il can be spread out and dried, and
ept for future sowing. 4
For the loose smut Of wheat this method is \
OF applicable and a rather severe hot water 6
reatment is the only method at present =
vailable. This kills a part Of the seed, so f
hat 80 per cent. more than usual must be
liculated on for planting. h,
Place the seed wheat in sacks and immerse
1 cold water for four hours. Drain the wa n,
.r from the sacks and let seed remain for
,ur hours more in the wet sacks. Then i'm.
ierse sacks with grain in hot water, kept at
g degrees Fahrenheit, for five minutes.
IL will he found when the cold seed is i'm n,
lersed in water at l38 degrees that the water
IN be cooled down TO below l33 degrees. Let
ie temperature fall for several minutes the.
y cautiously adding hot water brizg Il mp 'o
gain to 1873 degrees, and keep at that temper GU
ure for We minutes. Gu
The seed is then spread out to dry, when it
ready TO SOW. q