SMALL GRAINS 95 



and immerse in water at a temperature of from 110 to 120 F. 

 for about a minute. 



3. Plunge wheat into water at 129 F., and barley into 

 water at 126 F., and allow to remain ten minutes. Movement 

 upward and downward while in the water will facilitate the 

 penetration of the heat. 



4. Immerse in cold water to complete the treatment. 



5. Spread the grain out in order that it may dry quickly. 

 Preparation of the seed bed. The 



methods of preparing the seed bed, 

 already suggested for California wheat 

 growers, have a general application. In 

 the Wheat and Corn Belts, if the soil is 

 plowed early enough to become well 

 settled before planting time, it will be 

 sufficiently sub-packed for winter wheat. 

 A compact seed bed is of great impor- 

 tance, not only because it encourages root HESSIAN FLY 

 development, but it also tends to prevent Magnified 

 winter killing. 



Time of planting. Winter wheat should be sown in time 

 to allow the plants to get well started before winter. Spring 

 wheat should be sown as early as possible in order to secure 

 a good root development before warm weather, and to permit 

 an early harvest. 



Diseases and insects. Smut must be controlled by 

 treatment of the seed. Rust may be controlled through 

 rotation of crops or by use of rust-resisting varieties. 



Another but less known disease is wheat scab. Injuries 

 due to this disease seem to be increasing, the loss for 1920 

 being estimated at 20,000,000 bushels. The disease is caused 

 by the same parasitic fungus that produces corn-root rot. 



