LAND, STOCK & CROPS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9652, 8 July 1919, Page 2

LAND, STOCK & CROPS

(By "The Tramp.")

It will be remembered that during' the harvest just past a number of; crops in this county were badly affected with. smut. In order to guard against 1 a recurrence next year, farmers would be advised to peruse the following re-1 commendations of the Agricultural Department, and which have been supplied to me by Mr C. Branigan, Government Feilds Inspector.

1. Copper Suphate.—The use of cop-j per-sulphate (bluestone) lias been ] known for many years. It consists in immersing the seed for twelve hours in a solution prepared by dissolving lib of commercial copper-sulphate in 'M. gallons of water, azid then putting thei seed for five or ten minutes in lime-; water made by slaking lib of lime in 10 gallons of water. This treatment is cheap, easily applied, and very ef-, fective against wheat and barley smut. It is not to be recommended for the prevention of oat-smut. |

2. Formalin.—The treatment of the seed with various strengths of formalin has of late years been the subject of much experimental investigation, and it has been found very valuable for the prevention of various smuts, it is •recommended to be used at the rate of 1 pint to 35 gallons of water. The seed should be soaked in the solution for about two hours, care being taken to keep the grain well stirred, so as to increase the thoroughness of the application.

3. Potassium-sulphide.—This is especially valuable for oat-smut. Dissolve in 1 Jib. of potassium-sulphide (liver of | sulphide) in L's gallons of water in a I wooden vessel. The lumps of potassium-j sulphide dissolve in a few minutes, making' the liquid a, clear yellowishbrown colour. After thoroughly stirring, put into the solution about three bushels of oats, and agitate well so as to insure the wetting of every grain. Leave the seed in the solution for twenty-four hours, stirring several times during the day to make sure that every kernal is wetted; after [ which spread out the seed to dry. A number of experimenters have found I that soaking the seed for two 'hours in a 2i per cent (81b to 50 gallons) was nearly as effective as the longer treatment. Seed thus treated is much easier to dry than that soaked for twentyfour hours.

i 4. Ceres Powder.—This substance has been stated to be merely crude po-tassium-sulphide, sold under another name and at a much higher price.

5. CvVrosive Sublimate.— Recommended for bunt in wheat. Pile the wheat on a floor or on a canvas, and thoroughly sprinkle or spray with a solution consisting of lib of corrosive sublimate dissolved in 50 gallons of water. Every grain must be wetted; but do not use more of the solution than is necessary, for an excess impairs the vitality of the seed. In this method great care must be' exercised, as the solution is extremely poisonous.

6. Sar Solution.—Place 151b of flowers of sulphur in a barrel, mix thoroughly with \lb powdered resin, and stir well with three quarts of water. This, should ma%e a thick paste. Then add 101b of, caustic soda, and stir well. After from three to fifteen minutes, tho mass begins to boil violently, and must be stirred well, preferably with a broad padd|ta.>. -Alter it has ceased boiling, add ' sufficient water, to make the whole up to 6 gallons. This gives a stock solution, which must be kept in airtight jars or barrels. Of this stock solution use 1-i pints to 50 gallons of water, soaking the seed twentyfour hours; or 1 gallon to 50, soaking two hours. This method, though troublesome, is efficacious.

7. 'ihe Hot-water Treatment.—Numerous experiments by Jensen, Arthur, Kellerman, and a host of others have shown that hot water is 'an almost sure preventive of oat-smut. Provide two large vessels, holding at least 20 gal-

lons each. One of these should contain warm water at say 100 degrees to 115 degrees Fahr., and the other hot water at 132 degrees to 133 degrees Fahr. The first, is for the purpose of warming. the seed before dipping it into

the second. Unless this precaution is : taken it is. difficult to keep the water 1 in the second vessel at a proper tcm- • perature. Place the seed to bo treated [ at the rate of half a bushel a time iv a closed vessel which will allow the free ! entrance of water on all sides. A peri fora ted tin vessel is'the most suitable I for this purpose. The seed is then plunged into the vessel containing warm water for about one minute, and is

I then transferred to the one containing | hot water, where it is to remain' ten : minutes. The following precautions must be taken: (1) Maintain the temperature of the water in the second vessel at 132 degrees Fahr. to 133 degrees I'Vhr., and in no case allow it to ' rise higher than 135' degrees Fahr. or ; fall lower than 130 degrees Fahr. (2) See that the volume of.water is much greater (at least six or eight times) i than , that of the seed treated at any j one time. (3) Leave the seed in the second vessel for ten minutes. The potassium-sulphide treatment, as well as the hot-water method, not only prevents smut, but 'also greatly increases the yield; and the treated seed germinates quicker and is much I .stronger tllan the untreated seed.