92 AGRICULTURE 



for rust in oats, though some varieties are more able to 

 resist its attack than others. 



Smut ordinarily causes more injury to oats than any 

 other disease. It has been estimated that from two to three 

 per cent, of the entire crop is destroyed every year by smut, 

 causing a loss of from $6,000,000 to $10,000,000. 



The smut of oats is easily recognized a little time before 

 the crop is ripe. Instead of the kernels are found small 

 masses of smut dust which have taken the place of the 

 grain. Sometimes these smut balls are covered by the 

 chaff, much as the kernel should be, and other times the 

 chaff is lacking and the smut fully exposed. 



While there are two kinds of smut in oats, both will 

 yield to the same treatment. Smut may be wholly pre- 

 vented by treating the seed with formalin, as described 

 for the treatment of wheat. It will also be effectually pre- 

 vented by the hot-water treatment. In either treatment 

 the method is practically the same as for the seed wheat. 

 With so simple and sure a remedy for smut, every farmer 

 who lives in a smut region should treat his seed before 

 sowing. It costs almost nothing, and may result in an in- 

 crease of several bushels of oats to the acre. 



TOPICS FOR INVESTIGATION 



1. How did your father prepare the ground for oats 

 last spring? Were they sown on corn land? If so, were the 

 stalks broken down, or pastured close? Was the ground 

 disked before the oats were sown? If so, how many disk- 

 ings? If more than one, was the second disking across the 

 first, or by lapping ? Which is the better way ? How many 

 harrowings did the oats receive? 



2. At what date are oats usually sown in your region? 

 When does harvest begin? How many days, then, are re- 

 quired for the crop to mature? How much seed does your 

 father use to the acre? 



