South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-09-07
URGE GROWERS To
WATCH FOR MALADY
Serious Wheat Disease Known
as "NOmatOde' Arrives
From Europe.

A serious disease OF wheat long
known in Europe. has recently been
found in certain parts OF the United
states. particularly Virginia In
some Virginia fields losses have Oeeu
as high as 40 per cent OF the crop.
The United States department OF
agriculture urges growers 10 be on
the lookout for its appearance and
put into practice measures that win
prevent 1t from spreading Such
measures are described in a circu-
lar just issued by the department.
The disease, caused los a small
nematode or eelworm. usually affects
the wheat heads, although il may
occur on all parts Of the plant above
srOund'' Affected heads stay green
and ripen late and are smaller than
those not affected. The shan usual
4y opens at a wide angle. In place
OF grains D. wheat the affected
heads contain dark. hard gals some
what shorter and thicker than
wheat grains. Control measures con
sist OF planting only disease-tree
seed. practicing crop rotations and
preventing the spread OF the Eema-
todes from one field TO another 10y
means Of infected soil which may
cling TO the feet OF men OF animals
or to farm implements.
The disease was first reported TO
occur 10 a slight extent in 1903 IL
California. New York. West Virginia,
and Georgia. After that nothing
was known Of the trouble until 1917
when II was located in one place IL
Virginia. Since then il has been
found III many points IA the same
state, and I'm one locality IN cali
fornia. Recent examinations of this
years crop shows as much as 40
per cent loss i'm certain fields ia
Virginia. Quite likely the trouble
occurs even to a considerable eN-
tent IN other states. and has been
merely overlooked or mistaken for
buut coc6le seed or biu-ourut
wheat
Tn addition To preventing the
spread of this disease the depart
Meut of agriculture urges hat steps
DC taken TO stamp fl out i'm local
tiles already infected. and 10 stop
is furthur introduction from foreign
countries. Plant only clean. sound
seed from fields in which the d.
sease does not occur. II this can
not be done the gals may be separ-
uted from the wheat kernels by
pouring the seed Slowly into Il
pail OF water ana at the same time
stirring vigorously The gals viii
rise 10 the surface ana can be
skinned of. However. II left in the
water more than 10 OF - minutes.
they may become w~ater-sOaked and
sink. Calls may also be separated
from sound grain uy putting the
seed i'm water which has been heat
ed TO 81 OF 5G degrees e. tor 10 10
l. minutes. a treatment when is
also effective against smut.
Fields in which the disease has
appeared should not be planted in
wheat for two or three years. ANY
crop may be used IN the rotation.
since only wheat il known TO be-
seriously attacked.
Sanitation is also recommended
as "A means OF preventing the spread
OF the disease. soil from infected
fields should not be carried 10 un-
infected areas either by the flow OF
surface water OF by clinging 10 the
feet OF man. or animals. OF to farm
implements. 4 deep blowing under
of stubble just after harvest lessons
the spread Of the disease either To
nearby fields or within the same
fold