FORMALIN TREATMENT FOR OAT SMUT 605 



Wilcox (62) suggests that the oats be immersed for 10 

 minutes in a formalin solution made up of one pint formalin 

 to 30 to 40 gallons of water. After draining, cover the treated 

 grain for two hours, after which spread the grain out to dry. 

 when the sprinkling method is used the grain should be covered 

 after treatment for several hours or over night. Dry the grain 

 before seeding. 



Bowman (7) recommended the sprinkling method using 

 a solution "one pint formalin to 40 gallons of water.'' and one 

 gallon of solution for each bushel of oats. Shovel the oats thor- 

 oughly, after which they should be covered for several hours. 

 Spread out in a thin layer to dry. 



E. M. Freeman and E. C. Stakman (20) used a formalin solu- 

 tion one pint to 40 to 50 gallons of water. The treated grain 

 may be either immersed or sprinkled, after which it should be 

 covered for 12 to 24 hours. The grain should be dried so that 

 it can be run through a seeder. 



Giissow (22) prefers the formalin treatment to that of cop- 

 per sulphate since it does not affect the vitality to the same de- 

 gree. The solution used consists of one pound or one pint of 

 formalin to 40 imperial gallons of water. Either immerse or 

 sprinkle the grain, then cover for two to three hours, after 

 which it should be spread out to dry. 



Various other statements in regard to the formalin treatment 

 could be cited, but the foregoing are representative of all and 

 give the history and range of variation occurring in the meth- 

 ods of treatment. 



From the above citations it is evident that no standard meth- 

 od even with .formalin has yet been secured. The solutions 

 used ranged from one pint of formalin to 25 to 50 gallons of 

 water. Various times for covering also are suggested, and this 

 last factor is of considerable importance to the farmer. The 

 advisability of seeding directly after covering and the amount 

 of grain which should be used following such treatment are 

 still open questions. 



The Use of Vapor for Oat Sum!. 



Various experimenters have worked with different vapors in 

 au effort to find some treatment which would eliminate the 

 objections so apparent in the use of solutions. 



