10 March, 1909.] Tlic Stinking Smut of_ Wheat. 175 



every individual grain is wetted, and that only takes about a minute, and 

 should not exceed it. The constant shaking and stirring of the grain while 

 being immersed should bring all bunt-balls to the surface, and these should 

 be skimmed off. The bag is then allowed to drain, and when dry the seed is 

 ready for sowing. It is to be noted that the solution of bluestone is always 

 of the same strength as when first prepared, no matter how much of it has 

 been used up in dipping or in coating the grain. It becomes of course 

 reduced in quantity, and if exposed to the hot sun for several days, it would 

 become more concentrated, but under ordinary circumstances the standard 

 solution remains constant in its proportion of bluestone to water. 



Formalin Treatment.* 



Formalin or formol is the trade name given to a solution in water of a 

 colourless pungent gas known as formaldehyde, and the solution ordinarily 

 used contains 2i^ to 40 per cent, of the gas. One pound of formalin (16 ozs. 

 avoirdupois) of the above strength is added to 40 gallons of water and the 

 seed is immersed in this solution for five minutes, shaking and moving it 

 about sufficiently to insure the wetting of all the grains. The bunt-balls are 

 also skimmed off as before. 



Formalin is a well-known antiseptic, disinfectant, and preservative, and 

 is extensively and most satisfactorily used for the treatment of stinking smut 

 in both the United States and Canada. From its less corrosive action on the 

 seed and the higher percentage of germination which it yields, it has cer- 

 tain advantages over bluestone, and if the seed is sown within 24 hours of 

 treatment in a soil sufficiently moist to insure germination, the freedom of the 

 resulting crop from bunt is assured. 



I recommend dipping the seed, because it enables one, by thoroughly shak- 

 ing and stirring, to wet every grain and at the same time to skim off the smut 

 balls ; but it may also be pickled on the barn floor by sprinkling the solution 

 over it and thoroughly turning the seed until all the grains are wetted. 

 In addition to dipping and sprinkling, the seed m.ay also be treated by special 

 machines made for the purpose. 



Bearing in mind that the proper treatment is to wet every grain and skim 

 off the smut-balls, there is one machine known as a Smut Cleaner which per- 

 forms its work very satisfactorily. It consists of a frame made of carefully 

 selected hardwood ; a tank made of the very best galvanized iron, when for- 

 malin is to be used, or of copper for bluestone ; and a hopper in which the 

 seed is placed. There is also an elevator tO' elevate the grain from the tank 

 after treatment, and an automatic skimmer which sweeps everything from 

 the top of the solution over the back of the machine. 



The wheat to be treated is placed in the hopper, then it drops into the 

 solution in the treating tank, the solution being kept in constant motion by 

 the elevator carriers and skimmer, so that every grain is wetted and the smut- 

 balls and light seeds skimmed off. The treated seed is thus taken up from 

 the bottom of the tank and carried over a strainer sieve, where it is 

 thoroughly drained and then deposited in a bag in front of the machine. 



However the grain is treated, whether by dipping or by means of a 

 special machine, if done thorough! v and with the right strength of solution, 

 the farmer is insured against loss from one of the most destructive yet most 

 easily treated of smuts. 



* By the new industry of wood distillation Messrs. Cuming, Smith, and Co. are producing' formalin at 

 Warburton, and can provide i-lb. bottles of 40 per cent, strength (same as Schering's) at is. 6d, per lb., 

 Xiackages free.— D. McA. 



