212 MAINE) AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. I904. 



OAT SMUT AND ITS PREVENTION. 



Oat smut is much more prevalent in Maine than is commonly 

 supposed and while the loss is not total in any field, observations 

 and reports from correspondents indicate that the loss as a whole 

 is large. The disease is propagated by means of the seed, and all 

 that is necessary to prevent smut is to kill the spores that are 

 upon the oats used for seed. This can be accomplished in a 

 number of ways. By treating the seed with water hot enough 

 to kill the smut spores and yet not injure the seed, many grow- 

 ers in the State have materially reduced the smut in their fields. 

 The treatment with formaldehyde is the better one as it is sure, 

 safe, and easy. 



The Maine Agricultural Experiment Station has issued a 4- 

 page pamphlet on the prevention of oat smut from which the fol- 

 lowing is condensed : Half fill an oil or similar barrel with water, 

 and add one-half pound of formaldehyde (sometimes called 

 formalin). Place about two bushels of the seed oats in as wide a 

 sack as will readily go into the barrel, and submerge the oats in 

 this weak solution of formaldehyde for 20 minutes. Lift the 

 sack from the barrel, allow it to drain a few minutes so as not to 

 waste the solution. Then empty the oats on to a clean floor or 

 canvas to dry, and proceed in the same manner until all the seed 

 has been treated. 



A solution of formaldehyde the strength recommended above 

 is not poisonous and will not injure the barrel, the sack or cloth- 

 ing coming incontact with it, nor will it interfere with the germ- 

 ination of the oats. On the contrary, the treatment of the seed 

 seems to facilitate the sprouting, hastening it by 2 or 3 days. 

 The seed should be treated long enough beforehand to give it 

 time to dry out before using. 



