SMUT IN WHEAT.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19918, 3 May 1930, Page 8

SMUT IN WHEAT.

METHODS OF PICKLING.

An enquiry has been received as to the best method of pickling seed wheat to prevent stinking smut. A recognised Dominion authority on the subject says that the three commonest methods, all of which are efficient, arc as follows: ' (1) Tho bluestonc method, ltuown as 1.j.l —Dissolve loz of bluestone in 1 quart of water and sprinkle over 1 bushel of wheat. (2) The formalin method. —Mix l pint of formalin to 50 gallons of water I)ip tho bogs in this, leaving them in the mixture for 7 minutes. If a convenient trough is not available use the same miture to sprinkle over the tipped out on the tioor. If the heap of wheat is loft on the floor it should be covered with damp bags to prevent the evaporation of tlio formalin before it has soaked into the grain. Smaller . quantities than 50 gallons ai» used when tho sprinkling method is adopted. (3) Clarke's Carbolised Wheat Protector. —When this method is adopted the directions on the packet should be followed.

Other methods of pickling, such as ■with copper carbonate and the Lot water treatment, aro said to be better than those above named, but are not suitable t'or use by farmers, though a few farmers have installed the special apparatus required for the use of copper carbonate. Held Trials. Mr J. C. Ncill who, in 3925 was assistant mycologist, biological laboratory, Wellington, in an article in the "New Zealand Journal of Agriculture" in May 1925, recorded the results for 1924-25, of comparative trials in the field, of sixteen of the most successful seed treatments used in this atiil other countries for the control of stinkingsmut iu wheat.

Referring to bluestone (copper sulphate) tho article says that this has been in use since tho eighteenth century as a seed treatment for stinking-smut, and is still perhaps tho treatment in most general use in New Zealand. Experimental results confirm tho experience of many investigations and of most farmers, namely, that the bluestone steep, while fairly efficient in controlling stinking-smut, causes a marked loss in germination and iu vigour of the seeding. Formalin was first suggctcd for uso in controlling smut in 1895. Tho excellent results given by it led to its rapid uso in favour among plant pathologists, who have of recent years given it preference over the older bluestone. On the farms, however, the formalin treatment is, in general, looked upon with some suspicion—a suspicion which the experimental results referred to will not tend to allay. But a considerable portion of the cereals sown in New Zealand are regularly treated by this method.

The copper carbonate treatment is said to have eeveral advantages over the Milestone and formalin methods. It is simple, safe, less laborious, and can be done at any convenient time prior to sowing, since the treated seed does not specially deteriorate on keeping. It controls Btinking-smut just as efficiently, and effects a considerable Baving of seed, sinco only the minimum quantity need be sown, in the safe knowledge that the seed is undamaged. The main disadvantages are that a special machine is necessary to ensure proper mixing of the dust and seed; that copper carbonate dust is very unpleasant in its effect when inhaled by the operator; and that compared with bluestone and formalin the cost of the material is high. to the hot. water treatment of seed, the article says that the modilied Jensen method was used in a single experiment. The method is' indispensable for the control of loose smut, and there are features connected with it especially in regard to the simultaneous control of both smuts, that may bring it to the forefront in importance. Deferring to Clarke's Wheat Protector, the article says that this is a proprietary fungicide ipanufactured in England (there is an agency-for it in Christchurch). It is widely used throughout the South Island for the control of cereal smuts, and costs about 2d a bushel of seed treated. In the experiment with it, conplete control of the Bmut was obtained with the low and medium infection of the Pearl, Hunter's and Purple-straw Tuscan. With the high infection of the Solidstraw Tuscan, 0.2 per cent, of smutted heads remained, as against about 30 per cent, in tlio controls. The effect on the wheat plant differed widely as between Pearl and Hunter's sown in the autumn and the two Tuscans sown in the spring. With the former, Clarke's Wheat Protector had a very depressing' effect on germination and vigour of the seedling, while with the latter the treated seed improved slightly in both respects over the untreated controls. This profound difference is more likely to be due to some error in treatment of the Pearl and Hunter's than to the different dates of sowing. Further work would be necessary to settle the point. The simple and concise directions for use, printed on each packet, are a great factor in the popularity of this well-known treatment.

HYDATID TABLETS FOR DOGS.

Reference has been made to arecoline bromide as a good ageut for expelling the hydatid tapeworms from the intestines of dogs which have eaten infected offal. Hitherto there has been some difficulty in obtaining supplies of arecoline bromide, but the drug is now being placed on the market in tabloid form, in bottles containing twenty doses. One treatment with arecoline should bo sufficient, but dosing again two weeks later is recommended in order to expel any further tapeworms which had entered about the time of first dosing and had not been acted upon. After a dog is dosed with the vermifuge medicine it should be chained up for two days, and its faeces burnt in a fire, preferably lit on the contaminated ground (says the "N.Z. Journal of Agriculture").

The British National Union in London are contemplating organising a tour of Canada for British farmers during August and September next. Tentative arrangements have already been made, and it is estimated the per capita cost of the tour will be about £l6O.