Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-08-23

Altar dlpp1ng repeatedly IN tAo eolu :
tion, tho SACHS OF grain are put WAAre
they will drain and dry enough, -
the seed will run freely thru che drill.
II not used within two hours. spread
the seed out to dry and air.
Application may be made with an
ordinary sprinkling can while the seed
is being shoveled over from one pile
to another. Ono gallon is sufficient
to cover a bushel OF grain when TINS
method Is used. The grain must 'be
SO we'll stirred that every Kernel u
thoroughly wet. II Is then covered
with sacks or other cloth wet with
formaldehyde solution, and allowed to
stand for period before being spread
out to dry or sacked for use.
There are thr1e\methods Of treating
seed with hot water. Tho short meth
Cd consists Of dipping the wheat or
barley for from ten to fifteen minutes
in water ranging from 1926 to 1875 de-
grees and cooling and drying 1t inrie-
diately. To control loose smut the
seed should ;irst be soaked four to six
hours in cold water before treatins
with the hot, or q lower temperature
than recommended for the short meth
Oh should be used and the soaking
prolonged. II the latter method Is
used, keep the water at from III to
115 degrees and soak the seed tor
three hours.
Disinfecting seed grain will prevent
certain diseases other than smuts Cbut
not rusts), and thus may increase the
yield even more than would be indi-
Gated by simply replacing the smutted
with sound grains.
Reduce WinterkiIiins Of Wheat
An average Of 10 per cent Of the
area annually sown to wheat Is aban-
dored on account OF winterkill.s Much
of this abandonment can be prevented
and the liberty wheat harvest Of 1913
increased by planting wheat In the
right kind of soil Undertaking II
usually sign Of poor drainage and
the worst losses occur in soil that ID
low in humus or vegetable matter On
poorly drained sails wheat ID often
killed directly by the accumulation OF
water in low spots or Is smothered by
the formation Of ice in winter. Wheat
plants are also often heaved out OF the
ground by the alternate freezing and
thawing in the fall or spring, this be-
ing due to the formation OF ice In
soils saturated in water. Sufficient
moisture should be present for good
growth, but all water in excess Of this
amount should be promptly removed
by proper drainage. Better drainage
results from the improved physical
condition Of the soil In which humus
is plentiful.
Gourds Advertised az Valuable Beans
Two varieties Of edible gourds. lont
known but little grown in this country
have been widely advertised recently
as "butter beans Of rare quality and
high productivity. Vague but glow
ing and extravagant claims arc made
for them which has lead the United
States department Of agriculture te
warn farmers and gardens to be or
their guard. Their culinary value IL
similar to that Of summer squash, sa,
departmentmelt officials. and they ars
interesting as curiosities, but have
very slight practical worth. The
name gigantic New, Guinea butter
bean has been given to the common
Cucutza or sweet guord. It Is fire.
quently found in Italian vegetable
gardens and Is offered in the markets
Of New Orleons, but is considered Of
such little value that regular seeds.
men rarely give 1t notice. 1t has beer
reported that this so-called new bear
has been offered at extravagant prices