The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1917-09-06

Now that, because Of world short
age, every bushel of wheat and rye
counts for more than eve before, the
safeguarding of the next crops Of
these grains against disease by the
treatment Of seed before planting is
of greatest Importance. says the Unit
ed States Department Of Agriculture.
Department specialists estimate that
the average annual loss due TO the
smuts of wheat and rye amounts ap-
proximately TO 81, 500, 900 bushels.
This is equal TO about 3is per cent
of the entire yearly wheat crop and
is regarded as a conservative estimate,
since only smutted heads actually lost
are considered. The increased num-
Der of heads healthy plants would
have thrown out were not taken into
account. The loss to the billion-bush-
Ell wheat crop the Department hopes
to see harvested next year would, at
81 pei cent amount to $4,000, 900
bushels. With wheat selling at 50 a
bushel this would amount to an ex-
ceedingly high tax on the farmers Of
the country.
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 e in most of the
wheat-growing regions. The percent
age of efficiency for the country as a
whole, however, is reduced by the fact
that in large regions in the Pacific
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 8 cents an acre for materials
and labor. To this cost, however,
must be added the cost Of grain, the
terminating power of which may be
destroyed by the treatment. This
amounts at the most to 20 per cent
In every Ease the value of the wheat
saved by treatment would amount to
several times the cost of treatment.
Statistics show that the average
annual loss of rye from smut is about
/ per ENTHUSIASTICALLY less than the
loss of wheat. 1t is well worth while,
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
seed grain should first be cleaned
thoroughly with a tanning mill so that
smut balls, shriveled grain, chaff, ETC.,
will be removed. After the grain is
clean it may be spread on a floor or
a tarpaulin in a layer or pile several
inches thick and sprinkled with a So
luton of formaldehyde made by mix
ing / pound of commercial formalde-
hyde with 45 gallons of water. An
ordinary sprinkling can or a spraying
machine is used and the grain is SHOW
eled over and over until every kernel
is wet. The grain is then placed in o
pile and covered with sacks, blankets
or a tarpaulin for 2 hours or ovei
night. II Is then dried sufficiently tc
be run through the drill, after which
it may he sown. II the grain is moi
passed through a tanning mill il
should be placed in a vat or tank Of
the formaldehyde solution instead OF
being sprinkled. The smut balls will
arise to the surface and may be skim
med off.
If the grain is not to be planted i'm.
mediately, it must be dried sufficient
ly to prevent spelling when placed in
bins. If planted while damp anC
swollen, more grain by measure mus,
Ia mad IN alIa.u far +ha axnnnnian