426 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Caution. — The same precautions should be observed as given for the 

 previous metliod. Also remember that in this treatment the kernels will 

 swell and therefore due allowance must be made in setting the drill 

 to insure application of sufficient seed. 



J. A. JEFFERY, 

 Professor of Agronomy. 

 To the Editor : ^ ' . 



Dear Sir: — We have received numerous requests for the information 

 contained herein, and an especially urgent one from the Secretary of 

 the Michigan State Miller's Association asking that these facts be dis- 

 seminated among the Avheat growers of the state. Will you i)lease 

 publish? These bulletins are furnished to the press of the state only. 



R. S. SHAW, 



Director. 



FORMALIN TREATMENT OF OATS FOR THE PREVENTION OF 



SMUT. 



Press Bulletin No. 20. 



Enormous losses occur annually from the reduction of oat yields by the 

 ravages of smut. This loss can be largely if not entirely avoided by treat- 

 ing the seed with a formalin solution. 



Formalin is a 40% solution of formaldehyde; it can be procured from or 

 by local druggists ; the standard strength should be guaranteed. The solu- 

 tion most commonly used is made by adding one pound or pint of formalin 

 to from forty to fifty gallons of water. 



The treatment may be ai)plied in one of two ways, viz : 



(1.) Clean carefully a large area of the granary or barn floor and 

 saturate with solution; upon this spread a layer of grain several or more 

 inches in depth. Apply fornmldehyde solution to grain with a garden 

 sprinkler and stir well with shovel. Repeat the sprinkling and stirring 

 until the grain is thoroughly moistened and then shovel into the smallest 

 sized pile possible, where it should remain for not less than two hours. 

 Then spread the grain and dry it sufficiently to pass through the drill 

 if to be sown at once, or dry jierfectly if seeding is delayed. 



(2.) Put the grain in gunny sacks, about lV-> bushels to each, and 

 immerse from five to ten minutes in a barrel, tank, trough, tub or other 

 receptacle containing the formalin solution. A draining board can be 

 used to return the drip, thus saving both time and material. Dry as 

 heretofore described under 1. Drying may be hastened, in both cases, 

 by spreading the grain on canvass sheets out in the air and sunlight. 

 Bags or sacks other than those used for dipping should be treated, includ- 

 ing the grain drill. 



In adjusting the seeder, allowance must be made for the swelling of the 



