WHEAT 85 



others. The earlier varieties are usually safer than the 

 later. 



Smut in wheat. There are two kinds of smut that 

 attack the wheat plant, loose smut and stinking smut. Loose 

 smut usually destroys both the glumes and the kernels, leav- 

 ing only the bare stem. Stinking smut grows inside the 

 glumes, destroying the kernel only, and taking its place. 

 The spores from which stinking smut grows attach them- 

 selves to the kernels of wheat, and are therefore often 

 sown with the seed. This fact makes it possible to combat 

 this type of smut by treating seed wheat in such a way as 

 to kill any smut spores that may be present. 



One of the surest and cheapest ways of treating the 

 seed for stinking smut is by the application of a solution 

 of formalin. One pint of forty per cent, formalin mixed 

 in forty-five gallons of water will treat one hundred bushels 

 of wheat. The wheat may be spread out thin on a tight 

 floor and sprinkled with the moisture, shoveling it over 

 so that each grain is sure to become dampened. 



After it is well sprinkled the wheat should be covered 

 with sacks or blankets to keep it from drying out too rap- 

 idly. After a few hours, it may be spread out, or stirred, to 

 hasten the drying in preparation for sowing. Ten pounds of 

 copper sulphate dissolved in twenty-five gallons of water 

 may be used instead of the formalin. 



Loose smut may be prevented by what is called the hot- 

 water treatment of the seed. The wheat is put into sacks 

 and immersed in tubs of water warmed to a temperature 

 of one hundred and twenty degrees Fahrenheit. When the 

 wheat has become thoroughly warmed, it is taken out, 

 drained, and again dipped in water, this time heated to 

 a temperature of one hundred and thirty-five degrees. The 

 sacks may now be dipped at once in cold water, which will 



