The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1912-04-18
ROOT DISEASES: A REAooA
ron GRADING SEED GRAIN
(By H. l.. Bolley, Botanist.)

1.-Nell graded seed Is free from
foul seed .~sH. ...... Il
2.-'Properly graded grain contains
only the heaviest weight individual
seeds of the kind OF grain which one
wishes to SOW.
st has been proved by many
experimenters that wheat and other
cereal grain which are graded In such
manner as to remove all the grains
except those which are OF the heavi-
est specific weight yields best
Alt has been many times proved
that light weight seeds, no matter
what the cause, are of less value
for cropping than seeds OF the same
pedigree which are graded to the
heaviest specific weight. It is the
specific weight which counts, for It
has been proved that small seeds or
grain of heavy specific gravity have
greater producing power than large
grains of light specific weight, even
tho the latter are of greater total J.
individual weight. .
This bulletin is intended for the
purpose Of giving some reasons ex-
planning the above facts, which any
one can understand:
ALI of the various cereal grains
are attacked by certain parasitic
fungus diseases.
2.-Wheat and fax are especially
attacked by such diseases.
S.-These diseases are transmitted
by the seed from crop to crop, some
times internally and sometimes ex-
ternally.
4.-These fungus diseases are root H
destroyers and when once introduced
into the land they remain there for .
number Of years.
5.-These fungus diseases are e.
pecially harbored in the soil upon tho
old roots and stubble.
6.-Each kind Of cereal, including
flax, are so attacked that the seeds
are often invaded internally before
the germ which Is forming In the
seed reaches maturity Such seeds
are unable to develop to normal
weight, but they are sure to trans
NIT the root destroying fungi when
planted.
THE root diseases thus trans
mitted Immediately begin to develop
in the young plant, attack the roots
and invade the green stems and
leaves SO that they are able to reach
the seeds in the heads by interna.
growth, extending upward. Such
growths are filimentous. mold like
forms, and develop rapidly on the ex-
terror by the production Of spores |
which spread the diseases in damp, |
moist weather.
S.-Even the comparatively few
plants are attacked in any special |
crop, these are tied up with the heal |
thy straw in the bundles. If such
grain gets wet before threshing the
fungus filiments invade the heads Of
the grain of the healthy straws and
work their way into the dampened
or swelled seeds, helping to cause
those features known as bleaching,
blistering, etc. Such seeds, due to
wetting, become OF abnormal size and
of light specific weight They carry
into the soil with them the filaments
of the root destroying fungi.
Seeds Of wheat and fax and other
grains which are grown upon sick
mother plants and containing the fun
81 OF the root diseases on the inter
ior are sure to be shriveled and even
4 tho they are properly harvested 20
that no rain comes in contact with
the seed, such seeds often show bis
tering and bleaching, due to the ex-
cessive growth of the filaments in
side Of the branlayer; and even tho
they do not show any of these fea-
lures such diseased seeds transmit
the root trouble to the soil.
From the foregoing it should he
evident to anyone why bright colored,
plump, heavy weight seeds are more
likely to produce a good crop than
those discolored, bleached or blist-
cred seeds, even tho these may chance
to be larger.
Blow out or grade all the light
weight seeds. Never let your grain
which you intend to keep for seed get
wet. Treat all seed after it has been
graded before sowing to kill any
spores that may be busted over the
surface Of the Seeds
Rotate so that the same kind Of
crop will not be on the same land
more often than once in five or six
years, and you will not have so much