Cultivated Grains 313 



450. In the results, the increased yield was in pro- 

 portion to the amount of vegetable matter turned under. 

 The advantages of deep plowing and green manuring 

 were noticeable. Similar tests made on heavier land, 

 richer in humus, did not show such decided increase. 



451. The Fungus Diseases of Cereals of most import- 

 ance are the rusts and .smuts. The rusts, (Fig. 88) do 

 greater damage, and unfortunately no satisfactory means 

 of control are known. The selection of varieties show- 

 ing reasonable resistance is the best safeguard against 

 loss from rust. Every class in Agriculture should make 

 the treatments to prevent smut in wheat, oats, barley, 

 and sorghums. (See U 222). There are a number of 

 different species of grain smuts. There are several species 

 peculiar to wheat, and likewise other grain crops. Some 

 kinds may be prevented by treating the seed grain with 

 a dilute solution of formalin, while with others the treat- 

 ment with hot water will be effective. The cost of 

 treating seed grains is small. 



45 la. Loss from Grain Smuts. Visit grain fields just before 

 harvest. Mark a square yard and count the stools, noting the 

 number smutted. Calculate the per cent of loss. How much could 

 a farmer afford to pay for seed wheat or seed oats reasonably free 

 from smut? 



451b. How many acres in the school district are planted to 

 wheat, oats, barley, rye, and sorghum? What was the highest, the 

 lowest, and the average yield for each grain? What was the 

 average loss caused by smuts for each crop? What would this 

 amount to for the school district? How does this sum compare 

 with the cost of the school house? 



