47 



McCarthy recommends spajting the seed for eight tc t3n 

 minutes in water heated to 135° to 140°P., after which the seed is dried 

 and planted. 



Cultriral methods 



Crop rotation is found to help considerably in decreasing 

 the amount of ergot infection. Clover, sugar and cow beets, potatoes 

 and other crops not susceptible to ergot should be introduced in the 

 rotation. 



As ergot infection is said by some to be favored by moist 

 soils with.-iunderground water, good drainage is also recommended for 

 prevention of ergot. 



ks mentioned before, a rapid and uniform blossoming of 

 the cereals will prevent infection on a big scale because of the short 

 period of infection. The above may be brought about by applying all rules 

 of rational farming: good drainage, deep and good cultivation, normal 

 and not one-sided application of manure and fertilizers, proper rotation 

 good seed, and ^planting with a drill. Early and late varieties should 

 not be planted close to each other, because the late sown crop is likely 

 to become infected heavily. All these measures do not, however, prevent 

 the appearance of ergot but hinder its spread. 



Cereal varieties that stool little should be used, for 

 varieties which do not stool will be in blossom for only a comgparatively 

 short time, and the shorter the time of blossoming the smaller the 

 possibility of infection. 



Resistant varieties 

 Rgsistant varieties, where practicable, should always be used. 

 The variety "Little rye" is reported to be less susceptible to ergot. (5) 

 Six rowed barley and the erectum varieties of two-roised barley are also 



