SMUT IN CEREAL CROPS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1108, 22 April 1911, Page 8

SMUT IN CEREAL CROPS.

FORMALIN AS A PREVENTIVE. Experiments with regard to the treatment of ■ the seed of cereals with formalin for the prevention of smut havo been carried out during the last ten years Dy Professor Jaczewski, at the Russian Agricultural Phytopathological Institute, and the following recommendations are made, as a result of liis experiences in this direction."" The seed should not be too old. The older the seed the more easily does it absorb the formalin solution,-, and'the germinating capacity is liable to be injured, by tho formalin reaching the germ. The formalin solution;, should preferably ha weak, say, 0.15 per cent., or one pint 0f,40• per cent, formalin to 38 gallons of water. The seed should not be left to sleep for too long a time, but Professor Jaczewski regards a period of about two hours as niost suitable for disinfection, and states that this will'not injure germinating capacity. The treatment by immersion, he considers, somewhat inconvenient, however, and a ■.bettevjme.thod is to ' cdllect'-'the seed .in heaps, and- spray with the above solution, each heap being turned, so that all the wed receives treatment. .When this is complete the 1 seed should be covered over, left for two hours, and then spread out to dry.