MILLET SMUTS AND THEIR CONTROL 
By H. E. VASEY 
This bulletin is prepared after two years of study on the smuts 
of the common varieties of millets. The study is incomplete in a 
number of its phases but, owing to the fact that positive results have 
been obtained in regard to control measures, it has seemed advisable 
to issue this bulletin now in order that farmers, this season, may take 
advantage of the methods of seed treatment which have proven effec¬ 
tive. 
The millets have become valuable forage and grain crops in the 
North Central States and Great Plains region of the United States. 
Smut is the chief disease affecting millet in these states, particularly 
in Colorado, where its occurrence has so increased of late years that 
serious consideration has been directed towards its control. Doubt¬ 
less the disiase has been fairly abundant for several years past, oc¬ 
curring only in sufficient amounts to attract attention locally, but 
owing to continued use of smutted grain, the smut has reached rela- 
' tively large proportions generally over the State. 
Owing to repeated calls for information concerning the smut and 
its control, an investigation was begun in the fall of 1915 * for the 
purpose of ascertaining the kinds of smut affecting millets, the char¬ 
acter of these smuts, the losses inflicted by them, facts in their life 
history, and the niost practical methods for their eradication. Here¬ 
tofore very little study has been given to the smuts affecting millet, 
and the control measures recommended by others are much at variance 
and, therefore, uncertain. Formalin has been generally adopted as a 
suitable dsinfectant, some recommending the steeping of grain in a 
solution of I pint to 45 gallons of water for two hours, others using 
I pint to 30 gallons for ten minutes and others, i pint to 48 gallons 
of water immersed for five minutes. 
DISTRIBUTION AND LOSSES 
In the United States millet smut undoubtedly occurs in varying 
amounts wherever millet is grown. It attracted attention in Iowa 
in 1908 and 1909 , and has received some attention in Illinois, North 
Dakota and Indiana, although, to the writer’s knowledge has not been 
reported to be of serious import in these states. In Colorado, how- 
* This study was org-anized and begun by Dr. W. W. Robbins and Mr. 
Otto A. Reinking, to whom credit is due. 
