The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1922-03-03
TREATING GRAIN
ERAD|CATES SMUT
Several Effective Ways to
Treat Seed Grain

Many growers have the mistaken
idea that spring grain does not
need to be treated for smut" says
Chas. w. Hungerford, Plant Path
ologIst, University of Idaho, Mos
cow. ''UnIess he is sure that his
seed came from field IN which
there was no smut, every farmer
should treat all oats, barley and
wheat used for seed. lime spent in
treating grain is not wasted. Few
other tarm operations pay as large
returns. The loss from oat smut,
for example, 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 Sc
cure the best results from seed
treatment. FIRST Clean seed
thoroly to remove smut balls. 1t
the seed is practically free from
smut balls, 1t can safely be treated
in the sack. If there are notice
able number of smut balls present.
it should De poured loose into the
solutions and the smut balls skim
med off. SECOND. Sow as soon
after treatment as possible, as gram
which stands after treatment is
liable to be injured unless thoroIy
dried. Third Increase the rate
OF seeding at least one-fourth after
treatment to allow tor swelling Of
the seed. FOURTH After treat
ment do not allow grain to come In
contact with floors, machinery, or
sacks which have not been disinfect-
ed with the dislnfectlng solution.
FIFTH Measure solutions care
fully. DO not guess at the amounts.
A little difference IN the strength
of the solution may mean the differ
ence between success and failure.
"The following methods OF seed
treatment have been thoroly tested
at the Idaho Experiment Station at
Moscow and by various growers
thruour the state and have proven
successful.
Add one pint of formaldehyde
(37-40 per cent? to 40 gallons of
water. This equals one ounce to
two and halt gallons, or four
ounces TO ten gallons. Use about
one gallon OF the solution for eacn
bushel of wheat and little over a
gallon for each bushei of oats or
barley. Wet all grain thor oily,
either by sprlnkIing: by pouring
, loose into the solution or by soak
Ing ten minutes IN gunny sacks
filled one-thlrd tull. II treated
loose, cover with disinfected sacks
or canvas for two hours. Sacked
; grain should be drained and let lie
spi cad out in the sack until sowno
, Sow as soon as possible.
: A new and promising method for
treating oats with concentrated
: formaldehyde has been used success
fully for the last three years at the
Idaho Experiment Station.
Use one part of formaldehyde in
ten parts of water. Spread the
grain out on clean floor, canvas
, or wagon box. As the grain is
, shoveled from one pile to another,
each shovelful is sprayed with a
small quart hand sprayer held close
(, to the grain. Three movements of
the hand for each shovelfu gives
: about the right amount. Use IN
the proportion of one quart of the
s)lution to five bushels of oats.
Cover grain with sacks or canvas
which have been sprayed with the
solution. Leave covered four hours.
PRECAUTION: FornaIdehyde va
q por acts as an lrritant upon the
), nose and eyes, therefore:
II l. Hold the sprayer cose to the
Il grain.
=. Shovel the seed onto the va
por.
a 8. Work from one side of the pile
Continued on following page)