The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1928-05-04
Treat Seed Oats
to Avoid Losses
Large Annual Injury by
Smut Can Be Prevented
by Using Solution.

prepared by the United States Department
of Agriculturel
The large annual losses in oat
yields due to smut disease can be al
most wholly prevented simply by dip
ping, spraying or sprinkling the seed
with formaldehyde solution short
time before sowing, says the United
States Department of Agriculture.
The Importance Of smut in oats is
quite generally overlooked because
its effect is inconspicuous at harvest
me and the market value Of the
lreslled grain Is usually not I'm
paired. During the past ten years
for which records are available oat
smuts have, taken estimated annual
tolls ranging from 29OO0,OO0 to 91,-
100000 bushels and an estimated ay-
erage annual loss amounting to 49,
991 ZOO bushels.
Use Of Formaldehyde.
one pint Of formaldehyde, which
may be readily obtained at any drug
store, is sufficient to treat so bushels
Of seed oats. Several methods of APP
plying the solution are effective. and
the one to use is only matter of pref
erence. For the spray method, mix
pint OF formaldehyde with pint of
water and pour into quart sprayer.
II fewer than so bushels are to be
treated, use a CORRESPONDENCE small
er quantity of the solution. Shovel
the oats from one pile to another.
spraying each shovelful. A SCOOP
shovelful of seed requires about four
strokes Of the piston of the spray gun.
After the oats are sprayed. shovel
them into pile and cover with blank
cts or sacks that have been thorough
~ sprayed to kill smut spores. The
pile should remain covered at least
i've hours, and may be left covered
overnight. Treatment may be given
at any time previous to sowing, but
when seeding is delayed the oats
should be spread out and aired for a
day before storing.
To treat so bushels by the ''sprin-
kle method add one pint of formalde-
hyde to 40 gallons Of water and apply
with sprinkling can while the oats
are being shoveled from one pile to
another. Cover in the same way and
leave at least two hours or overnight
On removing the cover sow fmmedi-
ately, making allowance for the swol-
len condition Of the seed when set
ting the drill. If sowing is delayed,
B the treated seed should be spread out
and thoroughly dried.
Another method consists in putting
the seed into loosely woven burlap or
gunny sacks and dipping the sacked
grain into a solution of one pint for
maldehyde in 40 gallons of water. Dip
the sacks Of grain into the solution
two or three times, or until the grain
is thoroughly wet. Remove from the
solution and let drain at least two
hours or overnight. Then sow imme-
diately or spread out to dry,
Vapor Is Irritating.
brmaldehyde vapor irritates the
eyes, nose and throat. These effects
may be reduced by holding the spray
er close to the oats, by working from
the windward side Of the treated pile,
and by doing the work in well-venti-
lated place. After using the sprinkle
and dip methods, care should be taken
to avoid freezing or heating Of wet
seed. In all methods, avoid contain
mating the treated seed. All bags,
sacks, blankets, and even the drill.
should be wet with the solution to
kill any spores present.
Surplus seed treated with formal
dehyde may be fed to live stock with
out injury, provided the grain has
been spread out first and thoroughly
dried for several days.