The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-10
Help Stop EeIworms

Eelworm infection of wheat caused a 25 to 4O per cent damage in some sec tions of Virginia last year, while grain fields in Maryland, West Virginia, and Georgia also were attacked. states the United States department of agricul- ture in Farmers Bulletin 1of1, recent ly published. The disease Is caused by tiny worms called >eelworms or nematodes. The larvae, or young worms, cause dark, hard gals to form in the wheat heads in place of the good kernels. These gals are often mistaken for bunt or stinking smut.
 In the winter or spring the young eel worms escape into the soil from gals which have fallen to the ground or which were sown with the diseased wheat seed. Thence they reach the young seedlings and, as the plants grow, they are carried up to the young flowers, where they produce gals. Within these flower gals the larvae mature deposit eggs and again produce destructive larvae.
 Control of the eelworm in wheat Is not difficult, according to specialists of the department, who urge the use of clean, sound wheat seed secured from fields free of infection. If disease free seed is not obtainable, say these experts, the gals may be separated from the wheat kernels by the salt brine method, which consists of dissolv- ing 40 pounds of common salt in 25 gallons of water and then pouring the diseased seed slowly into this solution, stirring vigorously at the same time. The sound wheat kernels will sink while the nematode gals, light ker- nels and trash will float. so that this foreign material can be skinned off. This skimmed-off matter should be rinsed in water to remove the salt, and then plunged into boiling water to kill the eelworms, in which condition the material is valuable for poultry food. It lis always essential to subject the skimmings to the hotwater treat ment in order to destroy the eelworms. no matter what disposition is subse- quently made of this material
 After the salt brine treatment the seed should be rinsed in water and then be spread out to dry on floor or a canvas where it can be stirred occasion ally. When thoroughly dry the wheat seed is ready for planting. Caution should always be exercised not to ex- pose the wet seed grain to freezing and care should be taken to prevent stock and poultry from drinking the salt brine,
 Land oh which nematode- infested wheat has been grown should be plant ca to otner crops TOT tWos or pelter still, three years. During this time the eelworms will be so starved out that subsequent crops of wheat grown from clean seed are likely to be free, or almost so, from the infection. Any crop may be used in the rotation, since only wheat is known to be seriously attacked by the disease. Care should be taken to prevent the spread of the nematodes from one field to another by means of infested soil, which may cling to the feet of men or animals, or to various kinds of farm implements. Sur face waters, which may carry gals or the free nematodes, should not be per mitted to pass from infested soils to uninfested areas. Deep blowing under of the stqbble directly after harvest lessens the spread of the disease either to nearby fields or within the same field.