REPORT OF THE SOCIETY 49 



ant to note that the last bath must not rise above 129° F. or injury to the grain 

 will certainly occur. 



II. FORAGE CROPS 



Corn smut does not occur extensively in this province and it usually suffices 

 to destroy the smut boils when seen. The spores remain in the soil or are found 

 in the manure and according to Howitt (Ont. Bull. 258) neither formalin nor 

 copper sulphate treatments are efficacious. 



Our growers ought always to protect maize against another enemy. In 

 the beginning of summer our fields are invaded by crows which live upon the corn 

 grains principally. It is necessarj^, therefore, to find some treatment which 

 will prevent damage by crows, which will not be harmful to useful birds and 

 which will not injuriously affect the embryo. There is a choice of two methods. 

 The first and better consists in the use of tar as a repulsive agent. 



1, Tar. — This is used at the rate of a soup-spoonful to a half bushel of corn. 

 The grain is first placed in warm water and then drained. The tar is then 

 sprinkled so that each grain is well covered. It is then left to dry, or is rolled in 

 ashes, dust or plaster so that the grains do not adhere one to another. In norm- 

 al years this treatment does not retard germination and only in very dry 

 seasons does any injury to germination happen. 



2. Red Lead. — Farmers, Bulletin 1102 advises the use of this substance 

 which has given good results. The grain is dipped in dilute glue so that the 

 powder will stick and the read lead sprinkled on it until it is well colored. 



Others use petroleum, carbolic acid, fish oil ; but all these injure the grain 

 and reduce germination. 



III. OTHER CROPS 



If one wishes to improve the potato crop seed tuber disinfection is necessary 

 against such diseases as black leg, rhizoctonia and scab. For this formalin 

 treatment is best. 



1. Formalin method. — A solution of formalin is prepared of a strength of one 

 pint in 30 gallons of water and the tubers are soaked in this for two hours. 



2. Corrosive Suhlimate. — This is used at a strength of 1 in 1000 but it is a 

 dangerous poison so that it is not in common use by farmers. 

 5175—4 



