192 



FUKGI AND FU^N^GICIDES 



The following method of treatment with hot water 

 lias been recommended^ as adapted to the facilities of 

 most farmers. Have ready for the work some coffee 

 sacks^ two ordinary wash-tubs^ a good supply of hot 

 water and a clean barn floor. Partially fill tnb Iso. 1 

 with water heated to about 130° F.^ and tub No. 2 with 

 water at 140° F. Then fill the coffee sacks with the 

 oats to be treated^ and, taking one sack at a time, im- 

 merse it a minute or two in tub 'No, 1, for the purpose 

 of partially heating the oats ; then lift it np, let it drain 

 for a moment, and then dip it in tub No. 2, leaving it. 

 there for from five to eight minutes, turning and knead- 

 ing the sack to get all the seed soaked. Then empty 

 the oats on an airy floor — if possible, in the sunshine or 

 a draft of wind, and on a dry day — and let them become 

 thoroughly dry. A supply of hot water should be kept 

 on hand, some of which is to be poured into the tubs at 

 frequent intervals to replenish the supply and keep up 

 the temperature, which must be determined often by a 

 good thermometer. In tub No, 2 the water should 

 never get above 145°, nor below 133° 



For a long time solutions of copper sulphate have 

 been used to prevent grain smut, but in the light of our 

 better knowledge they should be discarded. They retard 

 the germination of the seed and decrease the yield. 



Experiments at the Kansas Station, by Professor 

 Kellerman, show that oat smut may also be prevented 

 by soaking the seed for twelve hours in a solution of one 

 pound of potassium sulphide (liver of sulphur) to ten 

 gallons of water. Place the seed in a wooden vessel, 

 and pour on the solution until the seed is covered several 

 inches deep. Stir the solution before pouring on the 

 grain, and thoroughly mix the seed several times before 

 taking the latter out of the solution. Then 

 spread out to dry. It will probably be best to sow the 

 seed as soon as j^ossible, and before it becomes thor- 



