THE BUNT, OR :<TIXKiXG SMUT 



197 



which should be continued fifteen minutes. In this way 

 every i:)ortion of the seed will be subjected to the action 

 of the scalding water. Immediately after its removal 

 dash cold water over it or plunge it into a vessel of cold 

 water^ and then spread out to dry. Another portion can 

 be treated similarly, and so on until all the seed has been 

 disinfected. Before thoroughl}^ dry the seed can be sown ; 

 but it may be thoroughly dried and stored if desired. 



^^The important precautions to be taken arc as fol- 

 lows : (1) Maintain the proper temperature of the 

 water {132^^ F.), in no case allowing it to rise higher 

 than 135°, or to fall below 130^ This will not be diffi- 

 cult to do if a reliable thermometer is used, and hot or 

 cold water be dipped into the vessel as the falling or ris- 

 ing temperature demands. Immersion fifteen minutes 

 will not then injure the seed. (2) See that the volume 

 of scalding water is much greater (at least six or eight 

 times) than that of the seed treated at any one time. 

 (3) Xever fill the basket or sack containing the seed 

 entirely full, but always leave room for the grain to move 

 about freely. (4) Leave the seed in the second vessel of 

 water fifteen minutes.^' 



Literature. — This smut has been very often treated 

 of during recent years. Articles concerning it may be 

 found as follows : Bulletin Xo. 1, Xorth Dakota Exper- 

 iment Station ; Bulletin Xo. 28, Indiana Experiment 

 Station ; Bulletins and reports Kansas Experiment 

 Station, 1890-1891. 



