The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1910-08-25
How to Eliminate Smut in
Wheat and Oats.
my c.K. sANnoRNO

(BY C.E. sANBoRN.)
, There are some diseases OF wheat
and oats commonly called "Smuts,"
that frequently become so prevalent
that large percent of these crops are
rendered worthless.
The sinking smut sometimes APP
| pears i'm wheat to such an extent that
| the latter is rendered unfit for milling
purposes Unless oats are kept free
| from the smut the latter can easily
depreciate the yield of an average
6eld to an amount equal to the taxes
of an ordinary sized farm.
A description of the disease is un-
necessary, since all farmers are ac-
quain;ed with it in some form. A brief
history of the disease is as follows:
Seed growing in an infected field, or
threshed with a machine in which in
fected seed has been lately threshed,
or handled in infected containers, such
as sacks, will carry the disease so that
when planted the latter will attack the
young plants and grow in them until
the time of ripening, at which time it
is most conspicuous, since it prevents
the seed from properly maturing.
These infected seeds convey the di
sease either directly or indirectly 10
the next crop, il they are not properly
disnfected
Treatment: Before sowing, the seed
may be treated with formaline and
water, or hot water. Either of these
treatments, if properly applied, will
control the disease. The best and most
practical one is the formaline treat
ment, which is applied as follows:
Place the seed wheat or oats on a
canvas or floor in order that it can be
spread out to thickness OF two or
three inches. By using sprinkling
can or spray pump thoroughly moisten
it with fotmaline and water. Dilute
10. formaline, which is 40 percent
solution of formaldehyde, with 30 gal
Ions of water) One gallon of this
"formalino water" is about the right
amount per bushel of grain.
The grain should be shoveled or
raked back and forth while it is being
sprinkled in order to insure uniform
results. When thoroughly moistened
i'm this manner, the seed should be
shoveled into conical pile so that the
disinfectant can continue its work for
at least two hours, after which time it
should be spread out the same as be-
fore the application, in order that it
may dry. While drying it should have
proper attention in order to prevent
heating. 1t can be sown, and should
be sown, as soon as it is dry enough to
be drilled. For broadcast sowing, dry
ing is unnecessary. Care should he
taken. however, in order to sow the
right amount per acre If the seeds
are slightly swelled at the time o.
planting, it is necessary to add an ad-
ditional four or five pounds per acre.
IL proper preca utions have not beer
used in due time for obtaining the
formaline, and it is impossible to apply
the formalne treatment, the "Ho
Water" method may be used Th'
following directions are about as con
venient as an ordinary farmer cal
follow
Procure reliable thermometer tina
will register at least l30-l50 degree
Fahrenheit Heat the water in an or
binary "hog scalding" kettle or othe
convenient vessel. Pour into one bar
rel water which will register l3o-l4
degrees. Near this barrel place anothe
containing water at a temperature be
tween 10 and l2o degrees Fahrenheit
Place another barrel containing coli
! water on the opposite side of the l3C'
iA5 degree barrel. In each barrel us