3 14 Minnesota Plant Diseases. 



"The grain must be handled over immediately after treat- 

 ment until it is found to be dry. 



"Note : The seed should be thoroughly cleaned by running 

 through a fanning mill before it is treated because the solution 

 is not strong enough to kill the disease (fungus) which is inside 

 of bits of straw and chaff. 



"After treating, it may be well to sow two or three quarts 

 more per acre, as some of the weaker seeds are apt 

 to be killed. Scaly flax seed and seed which has been 

 wet is always very poor for seed. Such seeds harbor the 

 spores of fungi which kill the young plants as soon as the 

 seeds germinate. Cease sowing flax year after year upon the 

 same land. Put at least one cultivated crop and two or more 

 other crops between flax crops. Burn as much of the old 

 straw and stubble which remains upon the ground as pos- 

 sible. Raise your own flax seed, grade it up to the best. 

 Watch for disease areas and notify the station. Thresh your 

 seed, when you can, in your own machine from a patch of 

 strong healthy flax and store it in a clean bin. Keep all the 

 flax straw out of the barnyard, unless it is intended to put all 

 manures through a several years' composting process. I can- 

 not say that this process will be successful in destroying the 

 fungus. It is destructive to most weed seeds and to the spores 

 of many fungi. Avoid the evil effects of deep planting. Much 

 damage is done to the flax crop of the state by too deep plant- 

 ing. The flax wilt disease does more injury to the seedlings 

 when the seed is placed deep in loose soil than when planted 

 shallow. One-half inch to three-fourths inch is the best depth. 

 The seed bed should be of even texture and quite compact." 



Downy mildew of clovers (Peronospora trifoliontin DC 

 Bary). This parasite attacks clovers and its relatives, such as 

 lucerne, etc. The summer spores form on thread branches, 

 similar to those of the downy mildew of mustards and the win- 

 ter spores are also similar to the latter. Summer spore patches 

 are pinkish grey and are found on the stems, leaves and peti- 

 oles. Diseased plants should be destroyed to prevent the oc- 

 currence of the disease in the following year. 



Sorghum blight (Bacillus sorghi Burr}. This is a bacterial 

 disease of sorghum plants. It appears on the leaves as reddish 



