1920.] " Smut Diseases " of Cereals. 23 



Wholesale dealers will be permitted to average their profit- 

 in the same way as last year. The average profit over all 

 transactions during the fortnightly period ending 28th March 

 and each subsequent fortnightly period must not exceed 

 ys. 6d. per ton, where the potatoes are sold to another wholesale 

 dealer, and must not exceed 15s. per ton where the potatoes 

 are sold to a retail dealer or consumer. In addition, the whole- 

 sale dealer may charge any reasonable amount borne by him 

 in respect of transport, and a sum not exceeding 10 s. per ton 

 for bags where these have been supplied by him. 



The maximum growers' prices apply only to potatoes 

 grown in Great Britain, and the Order does not prescribe 

 any maximum first-hand price for potatoes imported from 

 Ireland or foreign countries. On the other hand, the limitation 

 of profits of wholesale dealers applies to all potatoes sold in 

 Great Britain, whether home-grown or imported. 



The Order does not extend to Ireland, and does not apply 

 to potatoes sold as or for seed. In the case of potatoes sold 

 for seed, the provisions of the Seed Potatoes Order, 1918,* 

 must be observed. 



All contracts (other than contracts for sale of potatoes 

 in the ground) for the sale of potatoes subsisting on the date 

 when the Order came into force (15th March, 1920) are cancelled, 

 except in respect of potatoes delivered before that date. 



Every effort made by farmers this year to increase the 

 acreage under corn as well as to obtain a better yield per acre 

 will be for the nation's benefit. To 



" Sm of t Wheat S6S " achieve a better y ield > mucn can be done 



Barl°ey and^'ats. b ^ usn £ onl > T seed that is of S ood q ualit V 

 and is free from disease. 



Some of the most common cereal diseases are the " Bunt " 



or " Stinking Smut " of wheat ; the " Covered Smut " of 



barley; and the "Loose Smut" of oats. So widespread 



are these becoming that probably every farmer is familiar 



with the appearance of the black, powdery spores which, 



adhering to clean grain carry infection over from year to year. 



Fortunately, infection can be prevented by dressing or 



" pickling " the seed before sowing.^ For " Stinking Smut " 



in wheat, a solution of 1 pt. of commercial formalin and 



20 gal. of water is the best preventive : or a solution of 1 lb. 



of copper sulphate (bluestone) of 98 per cent, purity and 10 gal. 



* See this Journal, January, 1919, p. 1235. 

 + See also this Journal, October, 1918, p. 850, and December, 1919, p. 907. 



