364 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



5-6 EDWARD VII., A. 1906 



In districts with light soils and especially with gravelly subsoil, cultivation before 

 seeding is necessary. 



After taking the second crop from breaking or back-setting, there can be no doubt 

 that the land should be well fallowed to put it in proper condition for succeeding crops. 

 If the fallow is well made and the process repeated every third year, the settler will have 

 started on the right road to future success. 



SMUT. 



Smut the past season has been bad in many sections of the country, causing seri- 

 ous loss to the growers. Several reasons may be given why smut was so prevalent, but 

 without a doubt the chief one was improper treatment of the seed. That smut can be 

 entirely prevented has been time and again proven. Care must be taken to dissolve the 

 bluestone before applying, and to have the solution strong enough. 



I repeat what was said in my last report in regard to treatment for prevention of 

 smut. 



On account of many new settlers coming into the country each year that can have 

 no idea of the prevalence of smut, especially in the wheat crop, and the serious loss 

 caused by this fungous disease, I submit the results obtained during the past years on 

 this farm for their guidance. 



Bunt or stinking smut in wheat is a fungous disease that attacks the grain more 

 or less each year, and where at all bad, the crop is rendered unsaleable, and with only a 

 few heads affected, if threshed in damp weather, the grade and price are reduced. No 

 district is proof against smut, and though more prevalent in some seasons than others, 

 it is wise to guard against all danger from this source each year. Two remedies have 

 been tried repeatedly; these are, treating the seed with bluestone (Copper Sulphate), 

 and with formalin, Bluestone, from cheapness, ease in application and effectual cure, 

 has proven the best for wheat, while formalin has given the best results with smut in 

 oats and barley. "While formalin is not more expensive than bluestone, the application 

 is more difficult in the seed having to be soaked loftger. 



For wheat apparently free from smut, 1 pound of bluestone crushed and dissolved 

 In warm water and mixed with 10 gallons water, and the seed sprinkled with, or dipped 

 in the solution, is sufficient for 10 bushels. For wheat at all affected, 1 pound blue- 

 stone to 5 bushels seed is required. The seed can be sprinkled or dipped as is most 

 convenient, but, in sprinkling, care must be taken that every grain is wet with the 

 solution. 



For smut in oats or barley, 1 pound of formalin (which is a liquid), is sufficient 

 for 50 bushels seed. If the seed is smutty the solution should be 8 or 9 ounces formalin 

 tc 10 gallons of water ; if not smutty, 4^ ounces to the same quantity of water. 



The seed should be soaked from 5 minutes to 2 hours, according to condition of 

 grain and strength of solution. 



EXPERIMENTS WITH OATS. 



Forty-one varieties were sown on April 26, on l-20th acre plots of fallowed land. 

 Soil, clay loam. They were sown by hoe drill, at the rate of 2 bushels seed per acre. 



All sorts were very heavy and badly lodged, and had to be cut with a mower ; all, 

 however, were well advanced when heavy rains and wind lodged them, and both yield 

 and sample were good. 



