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only eighty-seven per cent, of the full crop. Figuring on this basis the an- 

 nual loss from oat smut amounts to 7,770,113 bushels. This is more than 

 the total yield of Benton. Allen and Tippecanoe, three of the largest oat- 

 growing counties in the State. At the average price of oats of thirty-five 

 cents per bushel the loss in cash value equals $2,719,539. The cost of 

 treating seed oats with the formaldehyde solution would be about two 

 cents per acre, or $34.00 for all seed sown in the State. The net profit 

 resulting from the treatment would be. therefore, considerably over two 

 and one-half million dollars. To gain this amount every year by practic- 

 ing the treatment is certainly worth the effort, and practical instructions 

 and demonstrations along this line in all oat growing sections of the State 

 are highly desirable. 



The formaldehyde treatment of seeds oats, as recommended by the 

 Indiana Agricultural Experiment Station, is briefly as follows : 



Spread out the seed on a floor and sprinkle with a solution of one pint 

 of 40 per cent, formaldehyde to 50 gallons of water until thoroughly 

 moist. Shovel over repeatedly to distribute the moisture evenly, then 

 shovel into a pile and cover with sacks or canvas for at least two hours. 

 The seed may be sown as soon as dry enough to run without clogging the 

 drill. If to be kept longer than one day, grain should be dried as rapidly 

 as possible by spreading in a thin layer and stirring occasionally with a 

 rake. Avoid reinoculating with smut from smutting sacks or bins after 

 treatment. One- gallon of the solution will treat a little more than one 

 bushel of oats. 



In order to facilitate the work of treating the grain, machines have 

 been invented which much simplify the labor and enable one to treat 

 large quantities of grain in a comparatively short time. Several types of 

 these machines are now on the market selling for twenty dollars or more 

 each. 



If total destruction of the oat crop in three counties occurred, it would 

 arouse the farmers of the State to action. Why should not the loss of 

 more than two and one-half million dollars distributed over the State do 

 so? If all farmers in Benton County treated their seeds oats they would 

 save enough in one season to build at least eight township schoolhouscs. 

 each costing not less than twelve thousand dollars. And then they could 

 save enough every year to pay the salaries of all their school teachers. 

 Many other counties in the oat-growing sections could do equally well. 



