179 



scalded 5 9 per cent, of the heads were destroyed by smut. 

 Not a single head of smut could be found on the plots sown 

 with treated seed. The gain in yield was even greater than 

 the number of diseased stalks would indicate. This repre- 

 sents a general truth, namely, that the average farmer is apt 

 to underrate the amount of injury done by smut, failing to 

 notice many of the diseased stem?, which remain dwarfed and 

 inconspicuous, or to allow for grain which, though apparently 

 sound, is light, as the result of smut. As estimated above, 

 the loss in Alabama oat fields due to smut is generally greater 

 than that noted in this experiment, where comparatively clean 

 seed was used. 



By treating all the seeds for a few years in successior, 

 and sowing grain only on fields where smut has not recently 

 developed, the seed grown on the farm will become so free 

 from smut spores that scalding will in time become unneces- 

 sary. The value of the treatment given above has been con- 

 clusively proven in many experiments in a number of statei^. 

 The treatment is rendered easier by the following arrange- 

 ment for heating the grain : 



Have a vessel for heating water and three tubs or barrels. 

 In tub No. 1 maintain the water at a temperature of 110 to 120 

 degrees Fahrenheit, in No. 2 keep the water at 130 to 135 de- 

 grees, adding cold or hot water as required, and in No. 3 keep 

 cold water. Dip the sacks of oats for a few minutes in tub 

 No. 1, the sole purpose of which is to prevent the cold oats 

 from going immediately into tub No. 2, and thereby reducing 

 the temperature too low. 



From tub No. 1 carry the sacks of warm oats to tub No. 2, 

 keeping the oats submerged there and «ccasionaly stirred for 

 ten or fifteen mmutes. Then dip the hot oats into cold water 

 or immediately spread them to cool. Only the one vessel 

 having water kept continuously at 180 to 135 degrees is 

 absolutely necessary. The other two are simply conveniences 

 to hasten the work. An accurate thermometer is absolutely 

 necessary. Xo guess work is admissible. A good "floating 

 dairy thermometer " can be obtained from large drug stores or 

 from dealers in dairy gocds at a cost not exceeding 50 cents. 



