Milford chronicle., 1912-08-30
GET CLEAR OF SMUT IN WHEAT

NNA NAAhn Va NhAoA AH UmLn
The raisers OF wheat in many Of the
Eastern States are, according to a state
ment in a bulletin issued by the United
States Department of Agriculture. sub
lected to ''an enormous lOssh every
year by grain smuts; and the same auth-
ority claims that this loss could "be en-
tirelY prevented with but a very slight
outlay and with a minimum Of trouble, -
if the effort were made. This effort in.
wolves only the proper treatment Of the
seed wheat, and as the time for planting
winter wheat is soon to arrive, the Grain
Committee Of the Commercial Exchange
OF Philadelphia has engaged in the very
laudable task of calling the farmers at.
tention 10 the fact that he can avoid the
annual loss which the presence Of smut
IN bis wheat entails upon the producer,
If he wishes to do so and will take the
necessary precautions before planting his
crop this fall.
The bulletin above mentioned very
truly points out that wheat containing
any appreciable percentage of stinking
smut has disagreeable odor, and is fre
quently subjected to a heavy discount by
millers on this account" What is more
10 she point is the statement that 'it is
perfectly feasible for every farmer to pro
tect himself not only from this discount,
but also to get materially increased yields
IN case his wheat is not badly infected
with smut"
Farmers Bulletin $50. issued by the
United States Government Bureau OF
Agriculture, recommended four principal
treatments for smuted grains, but new
bulletin Farmers Bulletin 500 is now
in press, which particularly recommends
the fOrmalin treatment for the preven-
tiOn of sinking smut in wheat, and Mr..
Edward G, johnson, Pathologist in charge
OF the Office Of Grain Investigation, has
very kindly offered to send the new bull
letin to applicants, which those interested
should gladly note The slight trouble
OF writing a request for the bulletin, ad-
dressed to the Bureau of Agriculture at
Washington. and the investment Of
postage stamp, will well repay the farmer
that is anxious to reap the full reward of
his labors.
The Grain Committee of the CONNER
cial Exchange has also solicited the aid
OF the Agricultural Departments of the /
States OF Pennsylvania, New Jersey, |
Maryland and Delaware, in this import /
ant work; and has been encouraged by 1
some OF the officials to believe that they
will gladly co operate in it. Possibly /
some farmers may prefer to seek advice
regarding prevention of smut from their
State bureaus, agricultural colleges, or
experiment stations. Secretary of Agri.
culture Critcbfeld, of Pennsylvania, writes
that his department has recommended
officially only the formaldohyde treat
ment and refers those interested to the
Director OF the Pennsylvania Agricultural
Experiment Station, at State College
~. c. Penn. DR. Mel T. Cook. State
Plant PathOlogist, New Brunswick, New
Jersey, writes that he has nothing to re-
commend other than the we'll known
treatments with fOrmaiin or hot water
Professor J B. S Norton, State Patholo
gist, al College Park, MARYLAND, advices
he committee that his department will
10 what 1t can in disseminating infOrma-
lion regarding grain smut. Or. Duyel
and Mr.. Edward c johnson. Of the Bur
5au Of Plant Industry OF the Agricultural
Department of the L s. Government
strongly approve, Of the committees :
Undertaking. and as everyone interested, -,
Scepting the farmer. has shown a sym ,,
pathetic interest, the committee makes ,
his endealOr to place the facts before :
i'm, ln time to he Of service bef1e y,
'eding tire new crop, with a recon- ,
iendatiOn that some of the authorities y
amed be asked for explicit instructions =,
ow to proceed, or. if preferred, the re- :
uest may be made of the Grain Com ,
piitee. Commercial Exchange, Philadel q
hia.