The Glenwood post., 1915-03-20
.AflRNf OF aEED GRAM


indi2I,-d in our last issIs the
is this ~cek presenting iufprma-
that should prove valuable -
of our farm readers. 1t is true
to the majority of our successful
ers this article will contain no
information. The formula here
is familiar to them and has been
lentiy used BY them in the prapa-
n Of seed grain Bat others may
areless OF tAouShtless in this nat
AID we knew that they cannot At
to be eitAse.
nis is just the time for the farmer
make sure that he has . suGicieat
nifty Of seed grain, but he should
stop there. 1t is equally important
he take pains to have that seed
perry prepared, to the end that is
produce the very best At harvest
e. We cannot afford to be careless
this respect. 1t is false economy to
chase good seed grain and then to
,lect to prepare it for the soil.
The following article was written in
tober, 1909, by Alvin Keyser of the
ricultursl Experiment station At
rt Collins:
There are two kinds of smut affect
z wheat, loose smut and sinking
nut.
1t requires both treatment and eul-
raj methods to prevent loose smut.
Both kinds of smut are fungus dis
ises. In each case the disease gets
lto the plant at or soon after germina,
ION while the plant is young.
The spores of sinking smut are car
led almost entirely by the seed, con-
equently any treatment of the seed
which kills the spores will prevent the
appearance of the smut.
The spores of loose smut are also
,arried by the seed, but they may also
be in the soil, if wheat damaged by
loose smut occupied the land the pre-
'ious year. Treatment of the seed
will kill the loose smut spores on the
'eed, but will not kill the spores in the
'oi. Consequently loose smut is liable
10 appear where wheat follows wheat,
even though the seed may be thorough
y treated. The only way to success
fully kill the spores Of loose smut of
wheat is to rotate the crops on the
and. That is to say, grow some crop
,thef than wheat On the land for st
east one year.
Treatment of the seed will prevent
smut Of wheat and the smuts
which affect oats and barley. Treat
nent of the seed together with rota-
ion of crops will prevent loose smut
# wheat.
xrsasnsnt Of sesd
There are number of methods Of |
reating seed grain to prevent smut |
several of these have considerable |
merit. The cheapest, safest, most
asily applied and most uniformly sue
essful is the formalin treatment.
Preparation Of Fcrmalin Solution
Obtain l6 ounce tone-poundl bottle !
# formalin, 40 per cent strength, at |
eady for treating the seed, make up
he treating solution by carefully mix |
ug the formaIin with water at the
ate of l6 ounces Zone pound) of for /
nalin to 40 gallons of water. This
would be one ounce of formalin to 2ia |
,allons of water.
Treatment of the Seed
The seed may be treated with the
prepared solution in one of two ways,
he sprinkling method or the dipping
method. If the sprinkling method is
o be used, prepare a clean place on the
'loor or ground and spread down a
arge canvas or muslin sheet. Sprinkle
he sheet thoroughly, using garden
Iprinklef. Now place the grain to be
.reated upon the sheet and sprinkle it
When the surface is good
nd moist, shovel over IS concrete is
mixed, 20 IS to moisten all Of the
Irain. Continue this sprinklipg and
mixing until the grain is all we'll
noistened. Now cover up the grain
With sacks Of blankets and allow it 10
stand for at least two hours. At the
end Of this time uncover the grain and
ypread it out - that it may dry thor
oughly. The terminating power is liza
bic to be injured unless the grain Is
we'll dried after treatment.
The dipping method is performed by
putting the solution in a barrel and
then dipping tie grain held in . gunny
,>>I ;.<> H. .nlnhsnA %