346 



This is (luitc clciirly ))r(iii,i;lit out in the rppdrt. Of tlu' five hundred and 

 three repoi'lers, only forty-fonr knew of tlio forniahlehyde treatment beint; 

 tried for stinkinu; smut, and forty-two of these bad been successful. The 

 two failures rei)orted could easily have been caused by c.ireless methods 

 of treatment or iierliaps by storing' in contaminated vessels after treat- 

 ment. 



The fonuaidciiydc treatment Cdusists in spreadini; the seed (m a ti^lil 

 floor or canvas and sprinkliuiu; until tborousbly moist with a A'', I'drmaldc- 

 hyde solution (made by adding one jxnind of 40% ctjunnercial formaldehyd ■ 

 to about 50 gallons of water). The t^rain should be shoveled over several 

 times during the sjn-inklirg iiroccss in order that the formnhleliyde may b ■ 

 evenly distril)uted. It shouUl then be shoveled into a pile and covered 

 with canvas, or some closely woven material, for nlmut two hours. The 

 covering should then be removed and the grain either planted inunediately 

 or else dried by shoveling or spreading the seed into a thin layer and 

 stirring occasionally. It may [lien be stored, care being taken to th(n'()ughl.\ 

 disinfect the bins or sacks in which the treated whe:il is placed. 



Tlie cost of treating the seed re(piired to plant the croj) of 1010 is 

 estimated as follows: I'.y nudtiplying the number of acres planted i;i 

 wheat, or 2.( L'T.oik*. liy oih> ;ind one-ipiarter bushels, or the amount of 

 seed planted jier :icre, we obtain .'>,i:>.'!.7."i> Imshels of seed re(iuired to 

 raise a crop e(pial to that of 1010. 



Figuring that forinaldeliyde costs 10 cents per jMiund. and tiiat oiu^ 

 pound mi.xed with HO gallons of water will be suliicieid to disinfect mi 

 bushels of seed, we have a cost of the formaldehyde for treating one 

 bushel, of apjiroximately one-hiilf cent. 



Then the amount of seed riMpiired, or .".,2^.'>,7riO bushels multiplied 

 by one-hall cent, gives .$l(i,-Hs.7."i, or the cost of the formaldehyde for treat- 

 ing all Ihe seed whe;il iilanted in the Slate. This sum sublracted from 

 the estimated loss of .*2-_'."'..(i(«), leaves ,$20S.r>,"<J, approximately, which 

 would be the gain to Ihe State in one year by tr(>atirg the setMl wluvit 

 with fornialdebyde. These lignres need no emphasis. The whole subject 

 is one which is now in the hands of the farmer. It is I'oi' him to decide 

 wbethei- he wanis lo prexcnt this hea\y loss or not. The I'nrdue Ivxperi- 

 incnt Slat ion is anxious to .-issist. in every possible wa\'. those interested 

 ill this work. 

 I'ltiihir I ' III nisll II, 

 Liifinirllc, liiiliitiia, 



