148 



1. That a solution of sulphate of copper of the strength of 1 lb. to 8 gallons of 

 water has the effect of destroying a number of M'heat germs, and that even when 

 the sulphate of copper is present only to one-third of this amount (as it is in the 

 " agi'icultural blue stone ") the injurious action is still strongly marked. 



2. That a solution of sulphate of iron of the same strength has eventually but 

 little destroying action on the wheat seed, though at first the plants from seed so 

 treated have their growth somewhat retarded. 



3. That the length of time that the sulphate of copper is in contact with the 

 seed determines, to a large extent, the amount of damage done to the vitality of the 

 germ. If sprinkling be sufficient to destroy the smut spores the grain should not 

 be Hft in contact with the solution longer than necessary, but dried and sown at once. 



In order to supjDlementthis work and to ascertain, if possible, the effect of these 

 solutions on bunt or hard smut, further experiments were undertaken during the 

 past season at the Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa. 



These experiments consisted of two series, in one of which the grain was 

 Ladoga, in the other Eed Fife. Each series comprised four plots. In the first plot 

 of each series the grain sown was untreated, in the second it had been previously 

 treated with sulphate of iron, in the third with solution of" agricultural blue stone," 

 and in the fourth sulphate of copper had been used. 



The strength of the three solutions Avas 1 lb. to 8 gallons of water. The 

 grain in each experiment with treated wheat was thoroughly sprinkled, allowed to 

 dry by spreading in a thin layer exposed to the atmosphere, and at once sown. 



The results of these experiments are as follows : — 



There was no smut of either kind upon any of the Eed Fife plots. 



In the case of the Ladoga, loose smut appeared on all of the four plots, the per- 

 centages of diseased ears from the treated and untreated grain being very close — 

 between 3 and 5 per cent. There was no hard smut on any of the Ladoga wheat. 



The results of these experiments seem to indicate that none of the solutions tried 

 are efficacious in preventing the development of loose smut. 



In view of the fact that it is the " hard," " stinking smut " or bunt that is chiefly 

 deleterious in Manitoba and the North- West Territories, and that such rarely occurs 

 when the wheat is grown here, it seems highly desirable that these experiments 

 should be repeated in the districts above named, and to this end it is proposed to 

 conduct the investigation during the coming year upon the Experimental Farms at 

 Brandon and Indian Head. 



WELL WATEES. 



Attention was drawn in my last report to the great importance to farmers of a 

 pure and abundant water supply, for use in their own families and for watering 

 stock. At the same time, an offer was made of a free analysis to those farmers who 

 suspected the quality of their water, if they were willing to prepay the freight on 

 the sample. In response to this inducement several have asked for the examination 

 of their drinking waters. To these, instructions were sent as to the manner of taking 

 the sample The right collection of the water is a very important matter, and it is 

 particularly desired that those in the future wishing an analysis should write for 

 the necessary instructions beforehand. 



It is especially to the dairymen that this question of pure water is of intei'est 

 and importance. Pure and wholesome milk can only be obtained from cows sup- 

 plied liberally with pure, fresh water. The general health of the animal must be 

 impaired by drinking polluted water, and many germ diseases in man have had 

 their origin traced to the milk from cows having access to imjjure and contaminated 

 water. 



From the following table it will be seen that out of ten drinking waters sub- 

 mitted to analj'sis only three were returned safe to drink. In many instances gross 

 contamination had taken place by drainage from stables, bai'n yard or other source 

 of pollution, thereby rendering the water poisonous and extremely dangerous for use. 



