346 DISEASES OF ECONOMIC PLANTS 



efficiency ; but since the formalin or Sar treatments are 

 thoroughly satisfactory and much easier of application, 

 the latter are preferable. The formalin treatment may be 

 made as follows : — 



Formalin can be purchased from a druggist at a cost of 

 from seventy-five to ninety cents per pound, much cheaper 

 if purchased in quantity. One pound is sufficient to treat 

 forty-five to fifty bushels of grain. It should be used at 

 the rate of one ounce to three gallons of water, and in gen- 

 eral, one gallon of mixture suffices to treat one bushel of 

 grain. 



Spread the grain in a thin layer on a smooth barn floor, 

 canvas, or upon hard ground, and sprinkle with the diluted 

 formalin, using either a spraying machine or a watering 

 pot. Sprinkle so as to thoroughly and evenly wet the grain 

 with the mixture. Then shovel the grain over thoroughly 

 a few times to insure even distribution of the solution and 

 thorough wetting of all the seeds, and cover the pile with 

 canvas, carpets, blankets, or bagging, to keep the fumes of 

 the formalin within. The pile should stand frojn six to 

 twelve hours in this way. The seed may then be readily 

 dried by mixing with air-slaked lime, and the lime may be 

 removed by the fanning mill, or the lime may be omitted 

 and the grain dried by spreading it out in layers about 

 5 cm. thick and stirring it frequently. The seed is then 

 ready to sow. It may be stored, but in so doing it is 

 liable to renewed smut infection, unless all bags, bins, etc., 

 with which it comes in contact are also disinfected with a 

 thorough application of the formalin solution. The drill 

 that is used should also be disinfected either with formalin 

 or by a thorough dusting with dry lime. 



