The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-08-07
j. S.. Clare, Lee County Agent Tells
Farmers What Must be Done
to Combat This
Disease.
ATTACKS WINTER WHEAT
Limitation in Production Of This
Grain Is Due to Prevalence
Of This Dis
ease.

J. s. Glare, Lee county farm bureau
agent, tells the farmers of Lee county
how to control scab on winter wheat.
He says that the chief limiting factor
in winter wheat production this sea-
son has been the fungus disease
known as wheat scab. The prevail
ence of the disease has been unusual
and it Is common on wheat, oats, bar
ley, rye and many of the wild grasses.
The presence of scab is first detect
ed on the young seeding, those at
tackled become discolored and dwarfed.
Gradually the leaves die and the
Seeding dries up and blows away. The
roots of partially healthy plants often
show a rotted condition and ultimate
iy these plants die. In other cases
the parasite attacks chiefly the leaves
and in this way works its way up to
the heads at or Just after blossoming
time. Here 1t causes part or the
whole head to turn light yellow very
suddenly. After the wheat is cut and
shocked numerous black specks de-
velop on the straw and the glumes.
These spots are the winter stage Of
the fungus. Wheat kernels affected
by scab have a shriveled, wtitish ap-
pearance and are very Hight in weight.
Very often the pink crust developes
ON the surface of the seed.
Life History of the Seab Organism.
The organisms responsible for the
scab disease are several species OF
Fusarium and Cinderella which live
on the seed and on refuse such as
straw stubble and corn stalk.
There are several ways in which
the head of the grain may become in
fected, besides through scabby seed.
The most important means of spread
Is from refuse lying loose on the
ground Insects and air current car
ry the disease to the heads which no
doubt accounts for only part OF the
weather is very favorable for the de-
are infected early in the season de-
velop a pinklike crust ON the glumes
which is a mass Of sickle shaped
spores. These spread to other heads
and cause the same trouble. When
the grain ripens small black specks
develop on the gl,rmes and straw OF
infected plants. They are also found
on corn stalk and grain stubble These
spots represent the winter stage OF
the fungus, which reproduce the dis.
ease in the spring.
Because Of its wide range of host
plants, scab is not as easily controlled
as certain other cereal diseases such
az smuts. There are, however, Ger.
tain practice which are very import
ant in the control of this serious dis
ease.
Control Measures.
AS already stated, scab has wide
range of host plan which makes crop
rotation som ewhat difficult. Oats,
however, Is only slightly attacked by
the disease, and for this reason 1t is
good practice to seed wheat after oats.
In Iowa 1t is common practice to
follow wheat after corn. If the corn is
cut for fodder or for silage there is not
the danger from scab that there Is If
seeded in the standing corn with one
horse drill. It is always difficult to
work down the stalks which are an
excellent host for the winter stage
of the fungus and prove source OF
danger during the following spring
and summer. Wheat may follow bar
lay or rye If the stubble IS plowed
under.
Early Seeding.
In many instances this year 1t mas
been observed that the early seeded
winter wheat had less scab. In view
of this fact winter wheat should be
sown as early as is consistent without
sustaining any injury from Hessian
fly. According to the state entomolo-
pist. wheat in central Iowa may be
safely seeded September 20 and in
southern Iowa after September Is.
Pillow Your Ground for Winter Wheat.
The reason for recommending this
practice is that all refuse as stalks
and stubble are covered up and are
NOT Az free to spread the disease as
when on the surface. It Is not always
possible to practice early seeding and
blowing, but if either Is sacrificed the
early seeding should be. 1t is very es-
sential that all ground be plowed be-
fore seeding wheat.
Select Disease Free Seed. =.
Since scab was so common this year
lar will oftentixes be difficult to Sc
cure seed free from scab. A number
or farmers in counties in the winter
wheat section had very little scab In
their wheat Such wheat is very
good source for securing seed.
Fan the Seed Thoroughly.
This practice is very important.
! Seed should be famed thoroughly,
twice If necessary, in a good up-to-date
tanning mill. Tanning cleans out not
only the light scabby kernels which