East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1917-10-06
SUGGESTIONS TO FARMERS FOR
ELIAlINA TON OF SMUT WHEAT

In hopes of reducing the
damage from smut in
wheat the department of ag-
riculture now has a repre-
sentative, j. c. Hawkins,
working in Umatilla county
towards informing farmers
as to what is considered the
best method of treating the
evil. Mr.. Hawkins is work
ing through the extension
department. at O. A. c. and
the use of formaldihyde is
recommended for smut.
The following line of ac-
ton, prepared by H. P.
Barss, botanist and plant
pathologist at 0. A. c. is
recommended.
/ Necessity OF Treatment.
/ The smuts and other diseases of ce-
reals which are carried by micro
scopic spores ON the seed are so COM
mon through Oregon, as well as else
where in the United States that crops
free from disease can not be expect
ed unless the seed is treated to kill
the disease spores before planting.
Where the treatment is properly Civ
en- the crop will be practically free
from smut.
Soil Infection.
Soil infection is practically un-
known in western oregon and is OF
little Importance in most of the CO.
lumbia Basin. Where it does occur,
it may result in smutty wheat crop
in spite of proper seed treatment. In
regions where soil infections are fire.
quent, it is reported that much of
the danger from this source may be
avoided by very early or late plant
ing.
FOrmaldehyde Treating Solution.
The formaldehyde method is ef-
fective. inexpensive and is the one
most commonly used. The ordinary
dilution Is:
Formaldehyde (Formalin) fun
strength (about 81 per cent?, 1 pint;
water, 40 gallons.
One pint in As gallons is sometimes
used and apparently with equal ef-
fectiveness. Two good methods of
treating with formaldehyde are CIV
en- below.
A. Tank or Barrel Treatment.
l. Run grain through tanning mill
to remove smut balls, shrunken ker-
nels, etc.
2. Partly fill tank or barrel with
solution and put in the grain.
For Wheat: If the seed is nor
known to be perfectly free from smut
balls. pour the wheat in loose, stir
with hoe or other implement to bring
the smut balls to the surface, and
skim off If seed is known to be
perfectly free from smut balls, it may
be treated in partially filled sacks.
Soak for 80 minutes. Remove, drain
and plant the same day or wash with
pure water and spread out to dry.
For Oats: Put oats in gunny sacks
and soak for 20 minutes in the solu-
ton. Take out, drain and plant ct
once. If grain is to be kept for a lat
er day. wash with pure water ana
dry thoroughly
For barley: Barley is more sensi-
i've 10 lHe dCllOI VI IuIildlISiyuS
than wheat or oats. Use same meth
cd as for oats but use the weaker So
luton. / pint formaldehyde to 40 or
so gallons of water and soak for 10
minutes only It should then be wash
ed with pure water. drained. and if II
is not seeded shortly should be thor
oughly dried.
Il. SprinkIing Method.
mr. gra In thrntIUh tanning
mill.
2. Spread grain out on a clean
floor or tarpaulin a few inches thick.
8. sprinkle with the 1 pint to. 40
gallons solution of formaldehyde, us
ing a sprinkling can or sprayer.
T. Shovel or hoe the grain over
till every kernel is wet.
5. Then shovel up into a pile and
cover with sacks or tarpaulin pre-
viously moistened with the solution.
6. Leave for two hours or more.
Z. Uncover and spread out till
dry enough to run through drill ana
plant at once or if the grain is nor
to be seeded Immediately dry thor
oughly before storing away.
Note-The sprinkling method
should not be used for wheat that
has not been cleaned of smut balls
as this does not kill the spores con
tained in broken balls and when run
through the drill the smut balls are
broken and the living smut spores
are then sown on the seed. Such
grain should therefore be treated
loose in an open tank and the smut
balls allowed to float to the top OF
the solution where they can be re-
mved by skimming.
Drill should be set to allow for |
swelling of seed when damp grain is
planted.
Bluestone "copper" Sulphate) Solution
good many growers use the blue
stone method in place of formalde- |
hyde with good results. 1t is more |
expensive and probable no more ef- |
foctive than the formaldehyde. 1t |
must not be used with barley as 1t /
Injuries termination severely. 1t Is /
not advised for oats. Bluestone as