Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1921-09-16
TREAT SEED WHEAT FOR SCAB
AND Shrinking SMUT.

N->b 81 l->Nl.NN s)hN
Wheat Scab was extremely pre-
Nalent in practically all sections of
West Virginia this year. This dis
ease is caused by fungus which
grows in various portion of the
wheat head and results in the pre-
mature death of The infected parts.
The entire head or just II portion Of
it may show the disease. Partly dis
eaSed heads arc especially striking
Just before the wheat is fully ripe,
as the top, middle. or base partitions
may be bleachcd out while the rest
of the head looks normal. In many
cases the entire head may be dis
seascd and look as though ii were
prematurely ripe. The fruiting Of
the fungus may also be seen in
many cases as Il salmon pink growth
around the grain Chaif, particularly
where the grains are attached to
the stalk. The grain from diseased
heads is light in weight. more or
less, shrivellcd, and contains some
of the fungus. The diseased grains
may often appear white and cottony
white surface if they are badly af-
fected.
The method of treatment for the
disease is as follows: The disease
is carried from one crop to the next
by infected seed and by the tiny
spores or fruits of the fungus on
healthy seed. 1t is evident that the
treatment should consist in careful
re-cleaning SO as to get rid of all
light grains; and seed treatment to
kill any fungus which may be cling
ing to the surface of the good seed.
The recleaninS should be thorough
ly done and only the very heaviest
grain retained for seed. This will
also help to get rid Of some other
diseases such as anthracnoSe The
sound grain should then be treated
by dipping into or sprinkling with
a dilute formaiin solution. To carry
out this treatment one pint of ordi-
nary commercial formalin is added
to forty gallons Of water and the
seed is either dipped into this
solution or sprinklcd with it.
If the sprinkling method is used
the grain should be placed III a
clean wagon box or on clean floor
Sprinkicd with the dilute formalin,
shovclled over, and then sprinklcd
again. The shovelling and sprink-
ling should be repeated several
times until every grain has been
thoroughly moistened. The pile
should be covered for two hours
with sacking. The grain should
then be spread out in clean place
to dry. If the seed is used at once
sRIInNxrnnrD h,
swollen condition and about one
fourth more bulk than normally
used. Ii the grain is stored in sacks
they should be boiled or dipped in
formalin TO Kill The spores Of smut
and ScaD; or if ii is stored in bins
tney should be washed with forma-
I'm before having The treated seed
placed III them. Sprinkle the drill
win about quart OF the solution
10 XIII any diseases there may be in
ii. In case more seed than is nee
cssarN is treated is is perfectly safe
to use i! rs feed after il has been
we'll dried and aired.
While The treatment of seed
wheat by This method will DESTROY
The spores Of the sinking smut. il is
not effective against The loose smut.
In addition, rotation will nciD 10
reduce the losses from these dis
eases. II has recently been diScOy-
cred That HE wheat Scab fungus
ives OVER winter on corn SlubbIc
corn Stalks III the iirid as we'll as
on wheat straw and Stubbic. There
fore il Viii be 4 ija!ing proposition
10 SOW = crop Of SOY beans between
the. corn "Id wheat crops. An cN-
Cci!cnl rotation iha! provides for
ms and also one that stands very
h!%h Ill &0ii imprOrvnrEt is corn.
SOY beans, wheat. and clover with
cover crop Of rye and vctch sown
AT tn last working OF ihc corn.
tcclcan, treat with furmaIin. and
rotate are the methods 10 be our
sued.
Mr.. 7. X. Massc, President of the