NEMATODE GALLS IN MARKET WHEAT. 3 
It was thought that this temperature would be sufficient to kill all 
the larve, but Mr. Thomas states that it is quite unlikely that the 
small amount of steam used would penetrate any deeper than the 
outside coats of the berry. Of course, during the baking process, all 
larvee would be killed, which were not killed in the milling operation. 
They are still present in a macerated condition, and it would seem for 
sanitary reasons that they should be removed. 
Notice has also come to the attention of the Department of Agri- 
culture that some farmers mill their own flour from this infected 
wheat. Knowing the content of these galls, this practice-is repulsive, 
and it is recommended that in the future, wheat for home milling be 
carefully inspected for the presence of these nematode galls, and 
that they either be removed by floating or that such wheat be re- 
jected or diluted with sound wheat until a negligible amount of galls 
‘is present. 
METHODS OF CONTROL AND DISTRIBUTION. 
It is apparent that if this disease is allowed to increase it will be- 
come a serious factor in the marketing and milling of wheat, and, 
therefore, known methods for its control should be made ubhe at 
the present time. ) 
Apparently, no previous extensive experiments have been peenied 
out for the purpose of controlling this disease in this country. - No 
‘doubt the prime essentials for Poti control are clean seed and 
crop rotation. Past experiments indicate that the nematodes must 
have either the gall or the host plant present as a protection, other- 
wise they do not live long in the soil in the active state. Also, it 
seems to have been shown that, of the common field crops, this 
nematode seriously attacks wheat only. It would seem, then, that 
a crop rotation of two or more years would be effective in practically 
ridding a field of this pest. nA 
‘The use of clean seed, either by the buying of new seed front ae 
side sources or by the planting of seed which has been properly 
cleaned, has been. shown to reduce the infection in a number of 
instances throughout the infected area. 
A number of ways for cleaning the infected grain have been al 
and suggested. Bessey suggests that grain containing these galls 
be given the hot-water. treatment, as carried out for the stinking 
smut of wheat, in order to kill the nematodes. Cobb! mentions 
winnowing. Steeping in a 2 to 5 per cent solution of sulphuric 
acid for one-half to two hours as a means of ridding, seed of these 
organisms has also been suggested. 
_. It has been the experience of several farmers, as well as that of he 
Grain Standardization Laboratory, that the bluestone treatment for 
1Cobb, N. A. Cited by Johnson. 
