The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1914-03-20
UNCLE SAM, M. ID.
Specialist in Cereal Diseases

large tiny smut plants are formed ir-
side Of them, but remain hidden and
allow the kernels 10 develop and I'LL
out like other seed.
The loose smut cannot be prevented
by the ordinary formalin Seed treat
ment, as it lives over the winter in
side of the SEED instead OF on the
outside Of the seed coat. The only
seed treatment which has proved 20 be
a preventive for this smut is the hot
water treatment. This is a delicate
operation for the average farmer 70
perform. as the death point OF the
wheat seed itself is so close to the
death point Of the smut in the seed
that very accurate thermometers and
careful handling are necessary.
The estimated average annual loss
Of loose smut OF barley is two per
cent. Of the crop. The time of ap-
pearance and other characteristics OF
this smut are almost identica! with
the loose smut OF wheat described
above. This smut cannot be pre-
vented by the f0rmalin treatment be
cause the smut passes the winter in
side the seed. The hot water treat
ment viii prevent il. but it is not rec
commended for the average farmer
who must treat a large amount of seed
in a short time at his busiest time OF
the year.
The study OF cor smut is receiving
considerable attention by the depart
ment. The losses are variable, being
largely dependent upon the locality
and the season, but are often serious.
No adequate means of control are at
present available. though it is known
that the losses from corn smut are
less where a rotation Of crops is
practiced and where care is taken not
10 feed smutted corr TO livestock and
then use the fresh manure on corn
land; because corr smut spores pass
through the digestive tract OF farm
animals u%ninjured and can live and
multiply in the manure.
Each Of the cereal crops has one Or
more kinds OF rust affecting them.
The black. or stem, rusts OF wheat,
barley and oats are the NOSE serious.
Each OF these three crops has an
early or so-called leaf rust, which
nearly always is present. but seldom
does serious damage. The rusts. as
their name would indicate, first appear
as reddish or yellowish spots on the
leaves or stems of the grains. The
stem rust forms long spots OF this yell
lowiSh powder, which turn black as the
grain ripens. 1t is this black rus
stage with which most farmers are
familiar and which they fear the most.
. The rusts are perhaps the most Sc
rious of all cereal diseases, for no
practical preventive measures are at
present know, other than the use of
wheats of the durum group, and the
selection and breeding of new vari-
cites resistent to rust.
No seed treatment is of any use
whatever, as the rust is an external
parasite. not living over in or on the
seed. Neither has any spray for the
growing plants been devised which
will give results at all III proportion
TO the cost of its application on a
large scale. In fact, experiments car
ried on with sprays on s. all plots
have not given very promising re-
suits.
1t is hoped eventually to furnish the
farmers OF the great grain-producinS
sections with new varieties which
shall be equal to the old, commonly
grown sorts and, in addition, will have
the added value of being immune. or
at least resistant or tolerant to rust.