The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-08-13
TREAT SEED WHEAT
FOR SCAB AND SMUT
Two First Class Methods
Worked Out By Uni
versity Experts.

Wheat scab was extremely prevalent
in practically all sections OF West Vir'
GINA this year. according to Professor
y. J. Giddings, plant pathologist Of tire
West Virginia Agricultural Experiment
Station, Morgantown. The disease is
caused by a fungus which grows in
various portions Of the wheat head
resulting in the premature death OF
the infected parts. The entire head
or Just a portion Of 1t may show the
disease. Badly Affected heads lose
their color and are easily distinguish
ed before harvest time, by their
bleached appearance. The frlhting OF
the fungus may also be seen in many
cases as a salmon pink growth around
the grain or chafi, particularly where
the grains are attached to the stalk.
Professor Glddings describes the
method Of treatment for the disease
as follows:
The grain from diseased heads is
light in weight. more or less shriyelled,
and contains some Of the fungus. The
disease may be carried from one crop
20 the next by such infected seed and
by the tiny spores or fruits OF the fun
gus on healthy seed. II is evident that
the treatment should consist in care.
ful recleaning so as TO get rid OF all
light grains, and seed treatment u
kill any fungus which may be clinging
to the surface Of the good seed. The
recleaning should be thoroughly done
and only the very heaviest grain re.
tanned for seed This will also help
to get rid o; some other diseases such
as anthFaonose. The sound grain
should then be treated by dipping into
or sprinkling with a dilute formulin
solution. To carry out this treatment
one pint OF ordinary commercial for.
malin is added to forty gallons OF
water and the seed Is either dipped
into this solution or sprinkled with IT,
II the sprInkling method is used, the
grain should be placed in a clean
wagon box or on a clean floor
sprinkled with the dilute formalin
shoVelled over. aud then sprinkled
again. The shOveling and sprinkling
should be repeated several times until
every grain has been thoroughly moist
ened. The pile should then be covered
over night with sacking, but II should
not remain covered for more than 4
day. The grain should then be spread
out in a clean place to dry. II the seed
is used at once allowance must DC
made for its swollen condition and
one fourth to One-half more bulk than
normal used II the grain Is stored
in sacks they should be boiled or dip
ped in formalin to kill the spores oil
smut and scAb: or II 1t is stored in
bins they should be washed out with
formalIn before placing the treated
seed in them.
II the dipping method is preferred
the wheat should be handled in lots
OF one.fourth TO One.half bushel, In
sacks or in baskets lined with wire
screening. The grain should be dip
ped into the solution, shaken around
a little, lifted out, allowed to drain
for a few seccrds and this proceeding
repeated three or four times. The
grain may then be placed in a pile
covered over right, and dried out az
in the case Of the sprinkling methods.
The treatment Of seed wheat By
either OF these methods will destroy
! the spores Of the sinking smut, but
1t is not effective against the loose
smut. citation will also help to reduce
! the losses from these diseases. Re.
clean, treat with formalin, and rotate
are the methods to be pursued.