Semi-weekly herald., 1909-10-21
TREATMENT OF SEED GRAIN TO
PREVENT SMUT.
(By Alvin Keyser.l

| tBy Alvin keyserD
The unusually large amount of smut
in grain. especially in wheat In the
plains region during the season OF
1909, has caused very great loss to
growers. To prevent the spread OF
the disease. calls for vigorous meas.
ures by the farmers.
| Smut.
There are two kinds of smut affect,
Ing wheat, loose smut and sinking
almost entirly prevent smut.
1t requires. both treatment and cul-
tural methods to prevent loose smut
Both kinds of smut are fungus dis
eases In each ease the dl' ease gets
In the plant at or soon after ger
rlination while the plant IS young.
The spores OF shrinking smut are
carried almost entirely by the seed
consequently any treatment of the
seed which kills the spores win pre-
vent the appearance of the smut
The spores of loose smut OF wheat
are also carried by the seed, bat they
may also be In the soil, II wheat dam
aged by loose smut occupied the land
the previous year Treatment of the
seed will kill the loose spores on the
seed. but VIII not kill the spores In
the soil Consequently loose smut Is
liable to appear where wheat follows
wheat, even though the seed may be
thoroughly treated, The only way to
successfully kill the spores of loose
smut of wheat Is to rotate the crops
on the land. That is TO say. grow
some crop other than wheat on the
land for at least one year.
Treatment of the seed will prevent
sinking smut of wheat and the smuts
which affect oats and barley Treat
ment OF the seed, together with roia.
tIon of crops win prevent loose smu,
of wheat
Treatment OF Seed.
There are number of methods OF
treating seed grain to prevent smut
Several of these have considerable
merit The cheapest, safest, most eas
i,y applied and most uniformai'y sue
C.sssul Is the formalin ,gaacnont
Preparation OF Formaiin Solution.
Obtain II lG-otlnce Zone polnd) bot
tie Of formalIn. 40 per cent strength. al
the drug store. When everything Is
ready for treating the seed, make up
the treating solution by carefully mix
ing the formalin with water at the
rate OF 1G ounces Zone pound) of for.
malin to forty gallons of water This
would be once ounce of formalin to
2H gallons of water.
Treatment OF the Seed.
The seed may be treated with the
prepared solution In one OF Two ways
the sprinkling method or the dipping
method. II the sprinkllng method is
to be used. prepare a clean place on
the floor or ground and spread down
a large canvas or muslin sheet. Sprin-
kle the sheet thoroughly, using a gar.
den sprinkler. Now place the grain
to be treated upon the sheet and
sprinkle 1t thoroughly When the sur
face is good and moist. shovel the
grain over as concrete is mixed, so as
to moisten all of the grain. Continue
this sprinkling and mixing until the
grain IL well moistened., Now cover
up the grain with sacks or blankets
and allow II TO stand for at least two
hours At the end of this time nn
cover the grain and spread II out sc
that 1t may dry thoroughly. The ger
mlnating power Is liable TO be injured
unless the grain Is well dried after
treatment.
The dipping method Is performed by
putting the solution In barrel and
then dipping the grain held in a gunny
sack into the solution, allowing IL tt
remain ten minutes. taking II out anf
permitting II to drain until the su
pcrfluous liquid drains back into the
barrel. After draining. the grain Is
placed in pile and covered witt
sacks or blankets. In the same manner
as In the sprinklng method. and al
lowed to stand two hours. after whicf
1t should be thoroughly dried before
planting.
One pound OF formalin to forty gal
500 pounds OF grain. Smaller amounti
OF grain will require about two gal
Ions OF the solution to every i0
pounds Of grain
BRYAN CAN'T LEAD TEXANS.