H. G. Hastings Co., Seedsmen, Atlanta, Georgia. 
0 
GRAIN SMUT 
AND HOW TO PREVENT IT 
With the rapid increase in acreage and production of oats, wheat, rye and barley in the South in the last few years 
there has naturally come with it an increase of the enemies of these crops. 
Years ago “rust proof” varieties of oats were originated and the losses from “rust” in the South are now so small as 
to be almost unworthy of consideration. “Smut” of oats, wheat and barley are now spread over the whole South and 
the damage from it unless checked is serious. 
A few weeks ago we rode for about 250 miles over one of the leading railroads of the South and we did not see a sin¬ 
gle field out of hundreds that did not show more or less “smut.” 
The “spores” (or seed if we may so term it) of grain smut are carried in various ways. The wind blows them from 
infected to uninfected fields. The public threshing machine is a great sinner in this direction, going from one farm to 
another. We might mention others, but it is unnecessary. There is hardly a grain growing section in the South that is 
not infested with smut. 
Weather conditions the past two seasons have been especially favorable to its spread and steps must now be taken 
to stop it. Smut can only be prevented by treating the seed just before planting, and it ought to be done regardless of 
whether you plant home grown seed or buy it from us or any one else. It ought to be done every season and on oats, 
wheat, rye and barley. 
What is known as the “Formalin” treatment is most satisfactory. The day before planting spread your seed grain 
on barn floor and sprinkle it thoroughly with a solution of one pound of formalin to forty gallons of water. After sprink¬ 
ling stir the grain until all parts of the pile are well damped, then spread out thin and cover with a sheet for several 
hours that has been soaked in the solution. Another way is to make a formalin solution of the same strength, in a bar¬ 
rel, dip the bag of oats or other grain in it, let stand for 30 minutes and then spread out to partly dry. Either of these 
methods will swell the seed grain some and the grain drill should be opened up a little more than for perfectly dry grain. 
Formalin is or should be obtainable at any drug store, but to be sure you had better get it ahead of planting time and 
take no chances. One pint of formalin will make sufficient solution to treat 40 to 50 bushels of grain. 
New Abruzzi Rye 
Twelve or fifteen years ago agents of the United States Department of Agriculture found a variety of rye in one of 
the Italian provinces and sent a quantity of it to Washington. From there it was distributed to various parts of the Uni¬ 
ted States. In this way a prominent planter of South Carolina got hold of it. Its remarkably rapid growth so soon after 
planting attracted his attention and the small patch was carefully watched. 
It made good then and it has made good regularly ever since, not only in South Carolina but in all the Southern States 
where small quantities have been planted. 
We have grown it for two years and do not hesitate to say that it is as far ahead of the Georgia rye as the Georgia is 
ahead of Northern rye; in spite of the extreme dry weather this spring it grew shoulder high and made a splendid crop. 
The Abruzzi Rye stools out quicker and heavier than any rye we have ever seen and quickly covers the entire ground. 
It can be pastured a month to six weeks earlier than other varieties of rye or oats. 
So far as we can learn it has succeeded equally well on stiff clay lands and the sandy lands of the Lower South. 
For the dairyman this quickness of being ready to pasture will make it invaluable, and for all others it is certainly 
well worth while planting a variety that will make 50 to 100 per cent more pasturage or hay in a season than the older 
sorts. We believe that the Abruzzi Rye will, in time, displace all other varieties of rye in the South, and you certainly 
.ought to get a start of it this fall. 
Pound, postpaid, 35 cents; 3 pounds, $1.00. By express or freight, not prepaid, peck, $1.00; bushel, $3.50. 
