The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1914-04-24
UNCLE SAM, NJ. D.
Specialist in Cereal Diseases

! large tiny smut plants are formed in
side of them, but remain hidden and
allow the kernels TO develop and fill
out like other seed.
The loose smut cannot be prevented
by the ordinary formalin seed treat
ment, as IL lives over the winter in
side of the seed instead of on the
outside of the seed coat. The only
seed treatment which mas proved to be-
a preventive for this smut Is the hot
water treatment. This is delicate
operation for the average farmer to
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 acc lrate 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 identical with
the loose smut of wheat described
above. This smut cannot be pre-
vented by the formalin treatment be-
cause the smut passes the winter in
side the seed The hot water treat
ment will prevent it, but it is not rec
commended for the average farmer
who must treat large amount of seed
in short time at his busiest time of
the year.
The study Of corn 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
to feed smutted corr to livestock and
then use the fresh manure on corn
through the digestive tract Of farm
animals uninjured 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,
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 vel
lowish powder, which turn black as the
grain ripens 1t is this black rust
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 in proportion
to the cost of its application on
large scale. In fact experiments car
ried on with sprays on small plots
have not given very promising re-
suits.
1t is hoped eventually to furnish the
farmers of the great grain-producing
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