Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1925-08-07
TREAT OATS
FOR SMUT
Plant Pathologist of Blacksburg
Gives Effective Method

Ito the best method for the see6
grower. In this case it is especially
desirable that all traces of smut be
eliminated if possible and the soak
ling method, which is most effective
lshould be used. This method is as
follows:
Prepare a solution of formalde-
hyde (formalin) by adding one pint
of formaldehyde Gao per cent? to 40
gallons of water. For smaller guam
titles use at the rate of one ounce
of formaldehyde to 21a gallons of
water.
Pour the oats to be treated into
this solution, using enough of the lat
ter to cover the oats we'll Allow the
oats to soak for two hours then drain
off the solution. spread the oats out
to dry and seed as soon as they are
dry enough to run through the drill.
Do not carry the grain over night
before seeding; treat only as much
grain as can be seeded that day. AL
lowance in seeding should be made
for the swelling of the grain in the
solution.
The method outlined above will
often give complete control of oat
smut or will reduce it to a very small
amount. This method was used at
Blacksburg in 1923 on V. p. L. No. /
with complete success The portion
of the field sown with untreated seed
showed 60 per cent of smutted heads
by count while not a single smutted
head could be found where the treat
ed seed was used. There was no in
jury to the seed from the treatment.
Formaldehyde can be purchased at
the drug store. 1t is sometimes sold
under the name formalin. 1t is a so
luton of formalin gas and usually
comes in the 40 per cent strength.
1t is non-corrosive and the treating
may be done in either wooden or
metal vessels.
The new, dry treatment of wheat
for sinking smut is rapidly taking
the place of the bluestone and formal
dehyde treatments 1t is more popu-
lar because there is no soaking or
wetting of the grain and no injury to
termination. The treatment is a sim
pie one; two ounces of copper car
Donate dust are thoroughly mixed
with each bushel of wheat. The
wheat may be seeded as soon as treat
ed or it may be stored for future
seeding without injury The treat
ment will give excellent control OF
the disease if the following directions
are carried out in detail
First clean the seed wheat thor
oughly in tanning mill; then place
it in mixer, add two ounces of cop
per carbonate 1.-TWO heaping table
spoonfulls) to each bushel of grain,
and mix for at least two minutes |
1t is then ready to be planted or
stored as desired.
The copper carbonate dust should
be of the type that is manufactured
for seed treatment. 1t
should analyze at least SO per cent
copper and 80 per cent of
it should pass through 200-mesh
screen.
Firms which handle material of
this type are:
Henry Sundheimer. Inc, 103 Park
Avenue, New York City
California Spray Chemical Co., New
York City.
John C. wiarda & Co., Brooklyn,
N. Y.
Nicholas Copper Co., 25 Broad
Street. New York City.
The price varies. according to the
quantity purchased, from about II TO
rs cents per pound AT the higher
figure tha material costs only cents
per bushel of grain.
The mixing may be done in con-
crete mixer, a barrel or tumbler
churn. or a homemade mixer. A.
good mixer may be made with tight
box of convenient size. A shaft
through the corners of the box will
cause an uneven revolution and will
insure good mixing. Small lots may
be mixed in a tight sack, but this
method is not so effective and is a
rather disagreeable job.
1t is probable that copper carbon
ate will be available for small lots
purchased at number Of places in
the State. 1t will be sold by the Vir-
ginia Seed Service, Richmond, Va.
and by the Growers and Producers
Exchange, Roanoke. Va. Local deal
ers will undoubtedly be glad to carry
the material on request.
Caution. If the dust is inhaled in
quantity it may cause irritation. A
wet handkerchief placed over the
nose and mouth during the treatment
will prevent this. If large quantities
are to be treated it is advisable to
use simple type of dust mask.
Loose smut of wheat, which is
sometimes called black heads or
blasted heads. is controlled as fol-
lows: Soak the grain in sacks filled
only half full for not less than four
hours. nor more than six hours in
cold waetr. A tank or the branch
may serve for the soaking of the