SMUT DISEASES

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 61, 14 March 1927, Page 10

SMUT DISEASES

DESTRUCTION OF CEREALS

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.")

DUNEDIN, This Day. Smut diseases 'caused damage to the extent of approximately £76,000 in the cereal crops of Otago last year. From the survey made recently by the Agricultural Department it is estimated that the smut ravages this year are only about one-half of the amount stated.

To a "Star" reporter, JJr. R. B. Tennent, an instructor in the Department said that tho reduction in loss may be dve x to two factors. First, that the weather conditions this year have been less favourable to tho propagation of smut, and, second, the Department has been carrying out a strong campaign against it at the farming schools and tho farmers' meetings, and have been showing tho necessity for a proper pickling of seed. Smut is a fungus. Its manifestations in Otago are commonly of ono or two kinds—covered smut which attacks tho inside of tho ear, and loose smut, which seizes upon the, whole of the head. The latter is the morn common. Tho pickling of the seed is tho preventive.. Some farmers pickle inadequately, others do not' picklo at all, and amongst these are men who have to loso £100 worth of oats or wheat because they will not spend £3 in pickling.