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otherwise the treatment can not be expected to be effectual. An immer¬ 
sion of a few moments (less than a minute) will sufficiently warm the 
basket of seed, provided that it be lifted out then plunged in a time or 
two and shaken or revolved so that the water may come in contact with 
the grains. Then plunge it immediately into the second vessel, and 
with similar motion bring every grain into immediate contact with the 
scalding water. The lifting and plunging should be continued at short 
intervals until the seed is removed. In this way every portion 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 till all of the seed has been disinfected. 
The important precaution to be taken is as follows: Maintain the 
proper temperature of the water (132° Falir.), in no case allowing it to 
rise higher than 135° or to fall below 130°. This will not be difficult to 
do if a reliable thermometer is used and hot or cold water be dipped 
into the vessel as the falling or rising temperature demands. Immer¬ 
sion fifteen minutes will not then injure the seed, though no doubt in a 
less time it will be thoroughly disinfected. 
The seed can be treated any length of time before sowing. If it is 
to be stored it would be necessary to have it first thoroughly dried. 
If treated immediately before using it can be sowed broadcast when 
dried sufficiently to prevent adhesion of the grains, but for planting 
with the drill it would need perhaps to be more nearly dry. 
The above outline of treatment is for oats, wheat, and rye. Professor 
Jensen has determined that barley must be previously soaked in cold 
water eight hours, otherwise the smut is not prevented. 
Tt is to be remembered that this treatment if universal in any section 
of country will, besides preventing smut in the crop of the season, also 
insure clean seed for use the following year. It has been established 
by actual count that the smut often destroys a very large percentage 
of the crop. When the smut was reported to be inconsiderable or even 
absent, we have determined that there may be 5 to 15 per cent, of the 
heads smutted. These are at harvest time usually overlooked because 
the smut has been blown away and the inconspicuous naked and clean 
stalk only remains. It might be added in this connection that it has 
been established recently that the smuts of barley and wheat, though 
much resembling that of oats, are really different species. 
Finally we may mention by way of suggestion for the benefit of others 
that farther experimentation is now being prosecuted, or about to be 
undertaken, having in view the determination of numerous points in 
connection with the application of fungicides for the prevention of smut. 
Among these are the following: A comparison of the efficacy under 
varying conditions of the liot-water treatment with other fungicides; 
comparison as to increase of yield when this or any other fungicides are 
used; trial of the Jensen method with other plants besides oats and 
