The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-11-19
SMUT, AN EXPLOSIVE.
Oregonian

OftSOuhhH
Agricultural experts who have long
been preaching crop rotation and di-
yersiication in the wheat-growing
districts of the Northwest have a new
and telling argument in behalf OF
more scientific soil cultivation. n
single-crop method is conducive 10
the production of smut in wheat.
Smut. 1t is declared, was primarily
responsible for the large number Oh
fires in threshing outfits throughout
the Northwest in the harvesting sea-
son of 1914.
The number of fires and the ex-
tent of their damage are surprising.
A bulletin published by the state
College of Washington detailing the
| results of an extensive investigation
estimates the number in the Palouse
district of that state alone as very
close to 800 and the total loss IN
machinery, threshed and u~nthreshed
grain. time and injury to men, at
more than half a million dollars.
In the number of such fires the
season was unusual. They had oc-
curred in other seasons, but hardy
more than a dozen in the three
Northwestern states had been report
ed in n previous year. In 1914 they
we're prevalent in all three states,
though Whitman county, IN WASH
ington was the most g%rievous suher-
or. The first occurred with a sud
denness and ferocity that caused
them generally to be termed expio-
sions. The separator was almost In
variably destroyed and in instances
the flames spread to the straw stacks,
To the threshed wheat and even raced
through the standing grain.
The frequency Of the explosions
was so unusual that many farmers
and machine operators refused tc
accent, the smut theory, but express
ed the conviction that they we're IN
condiary. In Latah, Idaho, a half
breed Indian was charged with re
sponsibility for one fire and con
fessed that he had put matches II
the bundles of grain. Thereafter NJ
repudiated his confession, declarlnl
he had pleaded guilty in order u
I get a light sentence, believing ina
because of his Indian blood he woul'
! not have a fair trial.
Washington State College investi
rated this phase of the trouble. Com
netent detectives were employed, bu
hardly the slightest substantiatlo'
of the incendiary theory was 90
tanned. The conclusion OF the CO..
,ege experts is that smut was the pr
q mary cause. There were other COZ
ditions, however, that were contrlI
q utory. One was the unusual drynes
a in the growing season, another a lac
n Of normal humidity in the atmo'
phere during the %threshing season
These factors caused a less tina
leverage moisture in the grain an
straw and made them more comDu
1 ltible. They also contributed 10 '
increased amount of static electrici
is developed by the cylinder and oth'
A. machine parts. That the explosion
ID we're caused by electric lgnition
8 the infamable dust and smut Is ne
r. to be reasonably certain.
or Precautionary measures are recoi
he mended to owners of ~separators al
in those interested therein may ma
profitable to write for a copy OF I
,ct bulletin to the college at Pullma
Wash. But it is a matter In Whl
every farmer ought to be Interest,"
,le It may be that the same compll
In tion Of circumstances will not SO
MS cause a repetition Of the fires IN I
itv Northwest, but that is not a safe
for lance. There are numerous rease
ON for crop rotation and diverslhcac''
to which the seasons fire losses
af- threshermen and farmers are an g
The phatic addition.
ity