EXPERIMENT STATION REPORTS. 



301 



The experiments show that in reaching smut spores the gas in the con- 

 centrated method is probably as efficient as in the dilute or sprinkling 

 method. The spores are i^robably killed in sufficient numbers after one 

 hour to make the treatment safe, even with such a short time. Four 

 hours is a safer time. Mabilitv is but slightly affected, even after 6 days 

 in a tight glass jar. The oats may be sacked immediately after treat- 

 ment without loss in efficiency. 



The last possibility is very important in that it allows the treatment 

 to be applied in elevators to large stocks of grain. Two or three men 

 could treat a large supply of grain verj' readily and in a short time. 



Examination (July 15, 1917) of fields of oats, barley and wheat in 

 Kent county, treated by the concentrated formaldehj'de method show no 

 reduction in stand due to treatment. In the case of oats there was no 

 smut found in treated fields, but was present at the percentage of % 

 of 1% in wheat fields treated by the concentrated method, 1-10 of 1% 

 in fields treated hj the ordinary dilute formaldehyde sprinkling method 

 and in 2% quantity in untreated fields. The wheat was of the Red Rock 

 variety and had been obtained from the same source. Reports furnished 

 by Mr. H. G. Smith, Kent County Agricultural Agent, shows that in 

 other fields in which the grain was treated by the concentrated method, 

 the bunt was almost completely eliminated, only one or two heads being 

 found in walking the entire length of the field. Evidently the personal 

 equation and other factors, such as subsequent infection from sacks or 

 drill, strength of formaldehyde, are operative in this treatment as in the 

 well known .sprinkling method. 



Other work icith the Hatch Fund: 



Superintendence by Dr. Bessey of the cucumber disease project in 

 which the department is cooperating with the U. S. Department of Agri- 

 culture has been carried out by the use of this fund. Research work on 

 many minor problems is carried out by means of this fund. 



The collection of photographs of plant diseases of the department has 

 been greatly increased. 



