The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1917-08-24
SEED TREATMENT WILL
SAVE MILLIONS OF BUSH.
ELS OF WHEAT AND RYE

over 8 IL per cent of the wheat
crop and l per cent of the rye
crop is lost through smut.
Seed treatment with formalde-
hyde solution is practically 100
per cent efficient, except in a few
sections where the soil is badly
polluted with smut spores.
The formaldehyde treatment
costs less than cents per acre
for materials and labor. To this
must be added in extreme cases
the cost of 20 percent of the seed
grain, the terminating power of
which may be destroyed because
of seed injury.
In every case the entire cost
OF the treatment together with
possible seed injury is much less
than the value of the increased
yield which it assures,
Now that, because of world short
age, every bushel of wheat and rye
counts for more than ever before, the
safeguarding of the next crops of
these grains against disease by the
treatment of seed before planting is
pf greatest Importance, says the Unit
ed States Department of Agriculture.
Department specialists estimate that
the average annual loss due to the
SHUTS Of wheat and rye amounts ap-
proXimately to 27,500,00O bushels.
This is equal to- about 3 10 per cent
of the entire yearly wheat crop and
is regarded as a conservative esti-
mate, since only smutted heads actu-
ally lost are considered. The increas-
ed number of heads which healthy
plants would have thrown out were
not taken into account. The loss to
the billion-bushel wheat crop the De-
partment hopes to see harvested next
year would, at 8 1-2 per cent, amount
to 100000 bushels. With wheat
selling at So a bushel this would
amount to an exceedingly high tax on
the farmers of the country.
Treatment of Seed.
Treatment of wheat against stink
ing smut is fairly easy, not expensive.
and fully 95 per cent effective. The
efficiency Of the treatment is, in fact,
practically 100 per cent in most Of the
wheat-growing regions. The percen-
tage of efficiency for the country as a
whole, however, is reduced by the
TACT that in large regions in the Pa
clilc Northwest the soil is polluted
with smut germs to such an extent
that the effects of seed treatment are
negatived. Seed treatment costs not
to exceed b cents an acre for materials
and labor. To this cost, however,
must be added the cost of grain, the
terminating power of which NAV be
destroyed by the treatment. This
amounts at the most to 20 per cent.
IN every case the value of the wheat
saved by treatment would amount to
several times the cost of treatment.
Statistics show that the average an
nual loss Of rye from smut is about
I per cent-considerably less than the
loss Of wheat. It is well worthwhile.
however, to treat rye seed also.
Method OF Treating Seed.
Several methods of treating seed
for the destruction of smut spores are
IN use, but the best, it is believed. is
the formaldehyde treatment. The
grain should first be cleaned thorough
- ava a aiming illll So J1aJ all smut
balls, shriveled grains. chaff. ETC.. will
be removed, After the grain is clean
1T may be spread on floor or tar
poulln in layer or pile several inch
es thick and sprinkled with a solution
OF formaldehyde made by mixing one
pound of commercial formaldehyde
with as gallons of water. An ordi-
nary sprinkling can or spraying ma
chine is used and the grain is shoveled
over and over until every kernel is
wet. The grain is then placed in a
pile and covered with sacks, blankets,
or a tarpaulin for two hours or over
night. 1t is then dried sufficiently to
run through the drill, after which it
may be sown. If the grain it not
passed through g tanning mill it
should be placed in vat or tank of
the formaldehyde solution instead of
being sprinkled. The smut balls will
rise to the surface and may be skim
med off. g
If the grain is not to be planted i'm
mediately, it must be dried sufficiently
to prevent spelling when placed in
bins. If planted while damp and
swollen, more grain by measure must
be used to allow for tho exnancio,,