554 GRAIN SMUTS. 



that oat growers could save many millions of dollars annually above 

 all expenses by treating their seed oats. 



SMUTS OF BARLEY, RYE AND CORN. 



Barley is attacked by two loose smuts, both very similar to the loose 

 smut of oats. In the covered barley smut the spores are often retained 

 till harvest by a thin membrane, inclosing the smutted kernel and 

 chaff. The naked barley smut, on the other hand, is like the ordinary 

 form of oat smut, and is usually all blown away long before harvest. 

 Both kinds of barley smuts can be completely prevented by the treat- 

 ment recommended further on. 



Rye smut attacks the leaves and stems of this cereal, and sometimes 

 weakens the plants considerably. Jensen thinks it can be prevented 

 by treating five minutes with hot water at 127 degrees F. 



Corn smut is of widespread occurrence, but rarely causes more than 

 a fraction of one per cent loss. No method of prevention is as yet 

 known. 



PRACTICAL DIRECTIONS FOR TREATING SEED 



FOR SMUT. 



POTASSIUM SULPHIDE TREATMENT FOR OAT SMUT. 



The potassium sulphide should be of the fused form known as " livei 

 of sulphur." It can be obtained of any druggist for from twenty-five 

 to fifty cents per pound, depending on the quantity purchased. It 

 should be kept in a tight glass vessel, protected from the air, until 

 ready for use. Dissolve one and one-half pounds in twenty-five 

 gallons of water in a wooden vessel ; a tight barrel is very good for 

 the purpose. The lumps of potassium sulphide dissolve in a few min. 

 utes, making the liquid a clear yellowish-brown color. After thor- 

 oughly stirring, put in about three bushels of oats and agitate well to 

 insure wetting every grain. The solution must completely cover the 

 grain and be several inches above it, as the grain soaks up some of the 

 liquid. Leave the oats in this solution twenty-four hours, stirring 

 several times during the day to be sure every kernel is wetted. Then 

 spread out to dry. In treating large quantities of seed, a hogshead or 

 a wooden tank might be used. The solution should not be used more 

 than three times. In no case should any metal be allowed to come in 

 contact with the liquid. This treatment is thoroughly effective for 

 oat smut, and is worthy of trial for stinking smut of wheat. 



