REPORT OF MR. ANGUS MACEAY 



311 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



SMUT TESTS. 



In 1907, two bushels of smut dust was obtained from King's elevator, Fort 

 William, and sown on five plots of fallowed land, each 8 feet square. After sowing, 

 the dust was well raked in, and then Eed Fife wheat treated as follovv's, was sown. 

 In 1908, Red Fife was again sewn on these plots, fwithout any further application of 

 smut dust. 



Eesults in 1907 and 1908. 



IS 



S 



3 



Quality of Seed. 



Treatment. 



No. 1 Northern 



II 



II 



Shrunken and poor. . 



Bluestone, 1 lb. in 10 gals, water 

 Formalin, 1 h 40 h 



Not treated 



Bluestone, 1 lb. in 10 gals, water 

 Formalin, 1 " 40 n 



Smut Heads in 

 Plot. 



1907. 



44 

 52 

 81 

 SO 

 36 



1908, 



2 



12 

 23 

 42 

 57 



Alongside the plots sown with smut dust were five plots of equal size, not treated 

 with the dust, resulting as follows: — 



Quality of Seed. 



1 No. 1 Northern 



2i 



-Sf .. 



4 Shrunken and poor 



51 



Treatment. 



Bluestone, 1 lb. in 10 gals, water . 

 Formalin, 1 u 40 n 



Not treated 



Bluestone, 1 lb. in 10 gals, water. 

 Formalin, 1 n 40 n 



1907. 



1908. 



Ill the spring of 1908, the stubble of the preceding crop was gang-ploughed 3 

 inches deep and the seed sown. 



The above tests were undertaken to prove whether dust blown from threshing- 

 machines, or smut-balls falling from grain and remaining in the soil, would cause 

 more smut in the crop than would otherwise be the case. 



Although the amount of smut dust used may api>ear excessive, yet it is not more 

 than may settle about threshing machines when grain is badly affected. 



On comparing the two years result, it looks very like a verdict for smut remain- 

 ing in the soil and injuring following crops. 



The only smut test conducted outside the above was treatment with Bluestone 

 versus Formalin of No. 1 Feed wheat of 1907 crop, and a jilot sown with good Red 

 Fife bluestoned in spring of 1907 and sown in 1908. A plot of No. 1 Northern, 

 untreated, was gown for comparison. 



Quality of Seed and Treatment. 



No. 1 Feed, Bluestone, 1 lb. to 10 gals, water 

 II Formalin. 1 n 40 n 



Treated in 1907 



Untreated, No. 1 Northern 



Smut Heads 

 in 8 ft. 

 square. 



Yield per 

 Acre. 



