The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1922-03-02
TREATING SPRING
GRAIN FOR Smut
UNIVERSITY SPECIALIST GIVES
LAS-TREATMENT
Is NECESSARY.

MANY growers have the mistaken
idea that spring grain does not need
to be treated for smut" says Chas. w.
Hungerford, plant pathologist, Uni
yersity of Idaho, unless he is sure
that his seed came from a field in
which there was no smut, every far
mer should treat ali oats, barley and
wheat used for seed. Time spent in
treating grain is not wasted, Few
other farm operations pay as large
returns.
The loss from wheat smut, for ex-
ample, in Idaho for a number of years
has averaged about dollar per acre.
Formaldehyde treatment which will
absolutely prevent this loss costs but
three cents per acre. The loss from
barley smut is about the same and for
wheat smut is much greater. There
is no easier way to increase your net
returns. Why not stop these leaks in
crop production?
Careful attention to certain de-
tails are necessary in order to secure
the best results from seed tratment.
First-Clean seed thoroughly to re-
move smut balls. If the seed is prac-
tically free from smut balls, it can
safely be treated in the sack If there
are noticeable number of smut balls
present, it should be poured loose into
the solutions and the smut balls
skinned off Second-Sow as soon
after treatment as possible, as grain
which stands after treatment is liable
to be injured unless thoroughly dried
Thlrd-IncreaSe the rate of seeding at
least one-fourth after treatment to al
low for swelling of the seed. Fourth,
After treatment do not allow grain
to come in contact with floors, ma
chinery, or sacks, which have not
been disinfected with the disinfecting
solution. F'ifth-Measure solutions
carefully. Do not guess at the
amounts. A little difference in the
strength of the solution may mean the
difference between success and fail
ure.
Methods of Treatment
"The following methods of seed
treatment have been thoroughly test
ed at the Idaho Experiment Station
at Moscow and by various growers
throughout the state and have proven
successful
The ordinary formaldehyde method
for all grains:
Add one pint of formaldehyde (37-
40 percent) to 40 gallons of water.
This equals one ounce to two and
half gallons, or four ounces to ten
gallons Use about one gallon of the
solution for each bushel of wheat and
1 little over a gallon for each bushel
Of oats or barley Wet all grain
thoroughly, either by sprinkling; by
pouring loose into the solution; or by
soaking ten minutes in gunny sacks
illed one-third full. If treated loose,
;oyer with disinfected sacks or can
as for two hours, Sacked grain
should be drained and let lie spread
out in the sack until sown Sow as
oon as possible.
Bluestone treatment for wheat
,nly
Add one pound Copper sulphate)
blue vitroD and one pound of salt to
Zach five gallons of water Suspend
he bluestone in a small cheesecloth
,ag in the water until it is dissolved.
mmerse wheat in the solution until
very kernel is thoroughly wet. Then
lip seed at once in a lime bath made
" Stacking one pound of lime and
making up to ten gallons by adding
ible This lime bath helps to pre-
ent seed injury.
The above treatments are not eff
ective for the loose smut of wheat or
he loose smut of barley Special
Methods are required for their con-
rol