Show SMUT CONTROL SAVES WHEAT Simple Methods Used to io Block Ravages of Disease WASHINGTON Oct 8 By 8 By The Associated Press Proper Proper disinfect disinfect- disinfecting ing log of seed teed wheat to destroy the germs of the disease commonly known as smut would l save e the farmers of the United States sail mil millions lions of bushels of wheat annually It is 13 estimated that in 1924 more more bushels of wheat were destroyed 07 by smut on Ameri Amen American American can farms The estimated loss for 1926 was bushels There is flag smut and loose smut but it is stinking smut a II fungous growth exuding a rancid odor as of dead fish that sometimes some some- sometimes sometimes times wipe out entire fields or sends the market value of wheat down from two to 20 0 cents on the bushel b I Scientists r consider it a virulent menace unless farmers disinfect all I their seed Thousands are doing it I already but th there re are thousands who do not They are assured that thata a per cent seed where there is no soil Infestation will nIl make possible a virtually clean wheat crop Slinking smut is 13 car car- carried carried carried ried in the seed and not wind wind- windblown windblown windblown blown from one growing field to another In 1917 Darell Smith an Aus Aus- Australian Australian found that smut-free smut wheat could be grown of the seed had hadDen ben Den dusted with copper carbonate Copper carbonate is cheap cheop is easy to apply and does not injure the seed either cither in dry or wet soil soli Treated seed can be stored with with- without without without out injury the dust it from weevil and making It unpalatable unpalatable table to rats and mice D ce Many farmers disinfect their seed wheat by a simple home process mixing in a rotated barrel or tank one bushel of grain and two t or three ounces of dust They I wear a mask over the nose and mouth as a guard against the th poisonous copper On the eve of winter wheat seed seed- seeding seedIng seeding ing government pathologists say every farmer should make sure that his grain has ben been b n disinfected |