Show how to prevent smut in wheat TO THE EDITOR OF THE DESERET NEWS SIR none will contravene ravene the axiom that th t he who produces two blades of grass where but one had bad grown is a benefactor to his species if this thia is correct in regard to grasses it is yet more beneficial in connection with the increase of cereals particularly those which forms dorins the staple of mails malis consumption it is well known that in this territory each year bears witness to a great diminution jn in the anticipated yield of wheat consequent 1 on the prevalence of smut it will be un I 1 necessary to enter into all the theories which i been ee 11 formed with regard to the causes I 1 of this diseased development of grain culture I 1 i but b ll 11 we can call understand a few facts in connection with the subject whenever smut is I 1 produced instead of cheat it is a public sacrifice c of labor and consequent wealth t there re i is the same trouble in sowing irrigating reaping and thrashing but in the results many hundreds of dollars annually in the accumulated industry of our common commonwealth ivea ith ever anxious to nil nii the he responsibility fayde demanded by their election the board or of the deseret agricultural and manufacturing g society have sought by debate and experience to provide a remedy for this evil at the last weekly meeting of the board a very interesting and arld animating animate ig discussion dicus slon sion elicited from two members very positive testimony as to their experience with a nearly similar process mr levi E riter said on the loth march 1860 1 I purchased from mr thomas eleven bushels of wheat as perfect in appearance as any I 1 oversaw ever over saw seven bubes I 1 sowed bowed upon a five acre lot following folio wing barly bur bar liy it made mad a beautiful growth but on heading I 1 I 1 discovered that my crop was one half en smut lilt I 1 siu submitted knitted the remaining four bushels to the following process in a strong salt brine I 1 stirred the whole four bushels carefully skimming shimming inin whatever floated I 1 drew off the brine for future use then poured on the grain two large buckets full of hot white wash made I 1 from fresh burnt lime stirred the whole till each grain was coated with the mixture I 1 covered with boards for twenty four hours and then sowed bowed where wheat had been grown grow in succession tion ston the result was a 1 prefect success scarcely an ear of smut was 1 produced I 1 also applied the same process to some of my own neat wheat heat which had bad process become acome very foul and degenerate the lime was so strong as to perfectly skin the grain a similar piece of land after four fourbears years wheat cropping cro ing and an with the same results I 1 bad tried many experiments washing in water lye lime etc but to the use of lii ill lime ilme e I 1 owe my immunity from the evil of smut elchan exchanging ing wheat for seed will not accomplish the object as Is I 1 in common with others have often proved it would be advisable to purchase lime in the fall and cover it up that it may not become air sla sia slacked aked every farmer should purchase fro from in one to five bushels as his necessities might require and by using as i I 1 have suggested we can banish the appearance of mut smut from our territory 1 mr said the following remedy was suggested to him by mr dir eiban myself 1 and others have tested and proved its value cleanse the wheat by tva iva washing s I 1 rill 1 slake too 1 quarts aarts of good lime to each bushea bushel add water sufficient to cover the grain allowing it time to soak from twenty four to thirty six hours then sow the best of lime should be had or an increased quantity used the board earnestly recommends a tr lof the above bove practice in the hope that a general good will be secured and would be pleased to receive communications as to the individual result results not only so but from men of experience in bac each I 1 i settlement we solicit communications cat lotis iotis oil on any improvements in agriculture horticulture floriculture and kindred sciences that when new our corresponding I 1 sacre S cro cre tary may prepare them for publication we have a great w work before us the tho development of our home resources we invite your operation cooperation co as brothers bl others ethers as aa a labor of love iove loves and for our common weal till zion wion shall become bairas the sun clea clear r as the moon beautiful for situation on the bides bidas C es of the north py ord oid order er of the president and directors HENRY IV NAISBITT corresponding secretary D A 11 S G S L CITY march 11 1861 |