The Ward County independent., 1909-02-25
Preventing Smut in Grain

The great loss caused by stink
inc smut in grain can be entirely
done away with by treating the seed
with formaldehyde, using 16 ounces
of the 40 per cent solution to eacl
4 gallcns Of water.
A good way to treat the, seed
without going to the expense OF
buying machine for that purpose
is to use gunny sacks to dip t1e
grain in the prepared solution. put
ting from half dozen to a dozen
sacks and having arrangements
made to allow them to drain for a
few minutes before emptying run.
ming the surplus back into the bar
rel or other receptacle SO it will
not be wasted, a Large amount OF
seed can be handled in short
time. Care should be taken in dip
ring that all goes under 50 r. Is
all thoroughly wet.
Another method is to s2:ay or
sprinkle II pile on the grarary
floor or even in a wagon box and
mixing thoroughly with shovel so
that every kernel is wet.
Where large quantities are to be
treated time is saved by using a
machine made for the purpose.
There are number OF different
makes and various sizes on the
market. Owing to the greater
speed with which the grain is
handled with the machine more OF
the solution is wasted than when
the grain is dipped or sprayed.
In treating flax seed for wilt, use
16 ounces of the 40 per cent formal
dehyde to 40 gallons of water,
spraying the seed and shovel1ng
over at the same time SO as to mix
thoroly without getting too wet.
Dry flax seed will absorb about IL
gallon to the bushel, wheat 3.4 to-
1 gallon and barley and oats about
2 to 2 IL gallons.
Wheat that mas been treated IN
creases in bulk about 20 per cent
nv the next day ami has absorbed
the moisture SO it appears to oe
mite dry on the outside. 1t Is
generally dry enough to handle
with a drill in few hours after
treating. The bulk of barley does
not appear to be changed by the
moisture.
Corn smut and loose smut in
wheat cannot be prevented 'oy
merely treating the seed. The on
u effective method for these smuts
is for farmers to combine over
a large area and cut OF all tne
diseased corn stalks and pull the
diseased wheat heads and ourn
them.
ro prevent potato scab, immerse
.ho +ubers to be used for seed for Q
half hour to an hour and a nall
,hefore cutting, in a mixture OF 10
ounces Of the 40 per cent formalde'
,,vde to 30 gallons Of water. It IS
better to plant the seed on lama
previously used for some other
crop. j
The cost of treating seed gram
to prevent smut is so small ami one
benefit SO large that II generalay ~
understood many more farmers
wno,,d get the habit. When the
writ,er first commenced the practice
a number of years ago he was IN
formed that treating the seed once
would be good for three or iour
Years. so he skipped it the second
wear. Tue result was that there
was enough smut in the crop tna'
wear to knock the wheat one grace
or 2 cents Eoushel in the Mime
apolis market, making a d1nerence
f SIS tor the half Of the cro1
threshed out of the shock. ihe
seed for the whole crop would nave ''
been treated at an expense OF y
or $S, including labor Since tnen
Iformaldehyde has been used as re
gularly as taxes are paid. af1e1us '''Il'
OF wheat have come under his op
servation in which, by actual tesu
the grain was destroyed by smut
and what was lett graded rejected
instead Of No. northern.
Stop loss when you can, ane
YOU can when it comes from stink
ing smut. Dakota Farmer.
Anthony Elm has emb arked II