The Carlisle independent., 1920-10-14
SIMPLE TREATMENT WILL PRE-
 VENT LOSS BY SMUT

fENI LOSS b1 SMU Arkansas loses many thousands of dollars annually from oat anG wheat smuts which can be easily controlled 1 by few simple methods of treatment and handsome profit realized on the time and money expended, declares J. A. Elliott, plant pathologist of the College of Agriculture, University of Arkansas.
 More damage is done by smuts to oats than wheat because of the larger oat acreage. Oat smuts often take as high as 25 per cent of the crops, points out MT. Elliott.
 Sinking smut or bunt of wheat and both oat smuts can be controlled by treatment with formaldehyde. Treat ment of seed wheat for stinking smut has been more general than the treat ment of seed oats, not because of greater losses, but because wheat con- taining bunt can not be sold to millers.
 Blue Stone Cooper sulphate) is commonly used for treating seed wheat and is a successful control of stinking smut but is not as cheaply or easily applied as formaldehyde and is apt to lower gerfnination.
 One successful method of treatment either wheat or oats for the different smuts is known as the "strong for maldehyde method". One pint of 40 per cent fromaldehyde is diluted with 10 gallons of water and sprinkled over the grain as it is shoveled from one pile to another. Ten gallons of so- lution should treat 50 bushels of grain and make the surface damp should be covered with cloth from six to eight hours and then uncover ed to air thoroughly. The moisture should not be sufficient to make the grain swell and it can be sown at once at the usual rate of seeding.
 In the soaking method" two half barrels with holes plugged near the bottom are placed one above the oth- er Fill the upper tub two-thirds full of formaldehyde solution-one pint to 40 gallons of water. Pour one-half to one bushel of grain in the solution Stir it and skim off floating material. After it has soaked 10 minutes, drain off the solution and spread the grain out to dry.
 A dilute solution of one pint of 40 percent commercial solution to 40 gal Ions of water is used in the "dilute spray method" The solution is spray ed over the grain at the rate of one gallon to one bushel. When grain is | thoroughly wet it is covered with a blanket or canvas for eight or 12 hours and then spread out to dry. As soon as it will run through the drill the grain may be planted, but allow ance must be made for swelling.
 In the "dry method" one pint of | 40 per cent formaldehyde solution is added to one pint of water to treat 30 bushels of grain. The grain is shovel ed from one pile to the other until all the grain has been treated. It is then covered closely for five or six hours and can be planted at once. If not planted immediately the grain should be uncovered to the air or the form l aldehyde will injure the seed.
 Loose smut is difficult to treat as it is under the surface of the seed coat If it is possible to get seed from a clean field this is the easiest way to avoid the disease. Formaldehyde will not control loose smut and the only remedy is the hot water treatment states MT. Elliott.
 When using hot water treatment the seed is first soaked five or six hours in cold water. Two large tubs and kettle of boiling water should | be provided. The first tub should be kept at 115-120 degrees Fahrenheit for warming the grain. The second tub should be kept at constant tenn perature of 129 degrees. A temper ature of 132 degrees will injure the grain while, 127 degrees will do little good. A peck to one-half bushel in a loose gunny sack can be treated at once. Warm up the soaked grain in the first tub and then place it in the hot water for 10 minutes, stirring constantly. After treating in the hot water the grain should be cooled quickly in cold water and spread out to dry.