The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1919-07-17

chosen as president, Gust Leverson OF
Brooten, vice president and Alex Mer-.
jerten of New Munich, secretary and
treasurer. These officers are all men
who have been identified with the CO
operative creamery work for a num-
Der of years and know well the many
problems confronting the farmers
creameries. Under the direction of
these men the Stearns County Co
operative Creamery Association will
undoubtedly be able to do ) a great
deal in the way of improving the gem
eraI conditions of creamery business
Throughout the county.
w. Huntemer
County Agent.
Wheat scab which is characterized
by causing blight of the heads, af-
fected portions becoming whitish or
pinkish is quite prevalent in Stearns
county this year. Heart or all Of the
head may be affected by wheat scab.
The disease seems to be more prevail
ent on Marquis wheat than other
varieties and is often referred to as
Canadian blight. Sometimes the blight
starts at the tip and traveles down
ward toward the stem. Again it may
attack the base of he head first and
travel upward or it may cause the
blighting of some spikelets and not
attack others at all. If the effected
portions of the head are closely eX-
amined a pinkish or organe color will
usually be seen. In severe cases the
necks of the plants may be discolored
The color being dark brown or some
times almost black.
The scab disease is caused by a
fungus parasite. The disease attacks
wheats oats, barley, rye and corn as
well as a great many wild grasses, cs-
ptciaJly the wild grasses. This year
the disease seems to be restricted
generally to wheat and rye.
The disease usually becomes most
serious during periods of wet weather
Heavy rains during the first part OF
June followed by unusual warm
weather is most likely responsible for
the spread of the disease this year
Scab is one of the most destructive
diseases of wheat often causing losses
ranging from five to fifty per cent OF
the crop. The disease is usually more
destructive in winter wheat areas
than in sections where spring wheat is
grown exclusively The fungus causes
the disease, lives on scabby wheat
in the soil, on corn stubble and thrash
from corn fields and on wild grasses
which are attacked.
Scab cannot be controlled entirely
The control measures readily suggests
themselves. Seed wheat should be
carefully cleaned so as to blow out
light shriveled kernels which contain
the fungus or better wherever possible
to use seed grown on a field which is
known to be free from scab. The
plump seed after cleaning should be
treated with formaldehyde as for
sinking smut. A system of rotation
should be followed in which wheat
does not follow corn or wheat. Moth
ing more can be recommended at the
present time. 1t is difficult to see how
any control measures which will pre-
vent the disease entirely can possibly
be devised on unless a good CONNER
cial wheat resistant to the scab can
be delevoped. The fact that the dis
ease occurs on so many cereals and or
corn and grasses and that it lives ir
or on the seed and in the soil makes
it almost impossible to control the dis
ease entirely. However, losses can @be
reduced by the methods here suggest
ed and in seasons less favorable tt
the development of the disease thar
the past growing season has been los:
can be reduced to minimum. The pres
ent season has been one of the mos
favorable possible for the spread o
| the scab disease.
w. Huntemer
County Agent.