The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-03-25

ned and screened, in many instances
it viii be hard to save more than is
to 200. The Importance of fanning
and screening oats cannot be too
forcibly impressed. The following
table from Professor Zavitz's inves-
LEGATIONS will be Of peculiar interest:
Size OF Yield per Per cent Of
GRAM Acre-Bu. large plump
seed over medium
and small-sized
plump seed
Large ......62. 0.
Medium ....54.1 14.6
Small ......46.6 33.04
The data above given, covering as
it does a period of seven years, and
shows wherein the large plump
grains yielded 33.04% less thar the
large well-flled ones. Running
through the machine once is seldom
sufficient; it may be necessary to put
them through two or three times be-
fore YOU Will be satisfied that the
work is thoroughly done. Many of
the elevators throughout the State
are cooperating with the farmers in
this important work.
Treatment for Smut
Second. 1t will cost about eight
to ten cents per acre for treating oats
with formalin for smut. BY a large
number of tests over the States 1t
has been found that on a conserva-
tive basis there is a loss OF iron Z
to 10 per, cent due alone to smut;
or in other words, the Iowa farmer
loses annually from 3 TO 5 bushels
of oats per acre due to smut which
: could lave been eliminated for not
/, TO eNceed 10 cents per acre by treat
ing the SEED with formalin. One
: pound Il I'D of formaldehyde Gao
: per cent? mixed with 40 gallons of
water will treat 40 bushels Of oats.
The oats should be spread out about
} 4 or ) inches deep; a sprinkler is
a very convenient method Of apply
ing the solution. While the solution
is being added it is we'll that the oats
t be stirred Ca rake a be used for
= this %purpose) in order that the So
luton may become equally distribute
ed. The oats should then be SHOW
l eled into a pile and covered with
blankets or gunny sacks, something
: to prevent the formaldehyde from
: ev%aporating too readily. This treat
5 ment may be done in the evening and
the oats left covered during the
| night. The following morning they
may be uncovered and again spread
out. BY stirring them occasionally
1t will be found that they will o
dry out and may be sown the same
dav. If more oats are treated tina
are needed for seed, they may be
fed after they have been left ex-
,.iposed to the air for "a to 48 hours,
r during which time the formaldehyde
e will have evaporated. The formalin
e treatment is the simplest and most
: effective treatment for smut in oats.
. In purchasing the formaldehyde
grea, care must be taken that 1t is
. of the proper strength as above
stated. Should it be weak, the treat
ment will be of no avail.
Preparation of the Seed Bed and
Seeding
A carefully prepared seed bed has
been one of the most neglected fea-
lures in connection with the produc-
ton Of oats. 1t is a very common
v practice to see an end-gate seeder al
9 work in fields where the corn stalks
still remain standing on the ground.
AS a matter of fact, most of the
prepa ration Of the seed bed has been
D very largely done after the oats have
been Such practices will have
II to be done away with before we can
expect the average yield of oats In
n this, State to be materially increased
The preparation of the seed bed by
no means receives the attention thai
it should in connection with all oul
If oats. Through the investigations o.
: the iowa Experiment Station we are
led to believe that about 70 per cen
CT the oats are put in before the
L seed bed is prepared; the oats being
! sown broadcast on unprepared corr
&c stalk ground, disced once or twice
- and possibly narrowed. For the hes
results the corr stalk ground shoult
~ he disced two or three times, tapping
u the disc half in order that the stalks
'e may be cut up and the seed bed pu
in desirable condition for recaivin'
AZ tho grain. The harrow should b
~ freely used. 1t is not desirable tina
- we have a deep, loose seed bed. no
~ is it necessary hat the ground b
- nlowed. 1t should, however, b