Treatment of oats for smut

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UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

Agricultural Experiment Station.

URBANA, MARCH, 1901.

BULLETIN No 64.

TREATMENT OE OATS EOR SMUT.

BY ARCHIBALD D. SHAMEL, B. S., INSTRUCTOR IN FARM CROPS, COLLEGE

OF AGRICULTURE, AND SPECIALIST IN FARM CROPS, AGRICULTURAL

EXPKKI.M KNT STATION.

The loss to the farmers of Illinois, due to smut in the oat crop,
is usually underestimated for three general reasons; viz.: 1. The
smutted stalks arc usually shorter than the healthy ones, and are
consequentl}7 overlooked in an examination of the fields. 2. The
smutted heads do not always push out of the rolled up leaves, so
that these stalks are counted as merely dwarfed plants, when, if
the leaves are unrolled, the heads will be found to be smutted. 3.
The smut ripens several days earlier than the healthy stalks, so
that by the time the oats are ripe the smut spores have been mostly
whipped off by the wind, in many instances leaving a bare stalk or
stub-. In such cases the damage is not recognized as due to smut.

The actual per cent, of smut in any field of oats can be deter-
mined as follows: Place an ordinary barrel hoop, or light frame
of any kind of convenient size, over any average spot of oats in the
field. Count all of the stalks inside the. hoop and note the number.
Then count the stalks affected by smut and divide the number of
smutted stalks by the total number of stalks. This operation re-
peated in three or more places in every field, in order to get an
average, will determine the per cent, of smutted stalks for the en-
tire field.

The accompanying table gives the result of careful tests made

57

BULLETIN NO. 64.

[March,

1901.] TKKATMKNT OF OATS FOR SMUT. 5g

last season in almost every prominent oat growing county of the
state. The per cent, of smut varies from 1 to 36 with, an average
over the entire state of about 14 per cent. With an oat crop of
130,000,000 bushels in Illinois in 1900 this means a loss of not less
than $4,000,000 in profits to the farmers of Illinois.

The table gives the name of the farmer making- the count, the
postoffice address and county, the variety of oats as far as known,
the number of counts made, and the average per cent, of smut.

AMOUNT OF SMUT IN DIFFERENT VARIETIES GROWN AT THE EX-
PERIMENT STATION.

A careful count of the amount of smut in the varieties of oats
tested at the Experiment Station was made last season, and the re-
sults of these tests are given in the accompanying table, together
with the yield per acre of grain and straw, the weight per bushel,
the time of maturity, and the color of the oats. The varieties
having the small per cent, of smut, as a rule, give the largest yield
per acre, while, as a general thing, the varieties with the large
percentages of smut give the lower yields.

NATURE OF SMUT.

There are two distinct smuts of oats: First, the so-called
loose smut, and second, the close or covered smut. In the loose
variety the smut is a dusty olive brown mass which is easily blown
away by the summer wind, leaving a bare stalk. The close variety
is less dusty and of a blackish brown, covered by the original hull
of the oat kernel, so that in many cases the presence of the smut is
undetected.

The smutted kernels are made up of a mass of minute spores
or seeds, which ripen usually several days before the oat kernels
ripen and just when the oat kernels are in the milky stage. At
this time the hulls of the oat kernels are open, and the light smut
spores floating about in the wind find a secure lodging place under
the hull of the healthy kernels.

As the kernels mature and dry out, the hulls close tightly
about the kernels with the smut spores inside. The spores also
become attached to the outside of the kernels during threshing or
in the oat bin, and in this way may also, it is believed, give rise to
smutted oats.

When the kernels of oats are sown in the spring with the smut
spores under the hull, or attached to the outside, the spores ger-
minate and send slender threads into the young oat plant. The
smut threads grow on the inside of the oat stalk during the months

6o

BULLETIN NO. 64.

March,

TESTS FOR SMUT IN OATS MADE IN 1900.

Name of variety.

Place where tests were made.

No. of
tests.

Per cent,
smut.

Mixed.

A. D. Hopps, LaMoille, Bureau Co

5

JO OO

Black

H. Livergood, Milledgeville, Carroll Co

6

1 1 .05

White

B. Springer, Virginia, Cass Co

9

12 68

Early white.

J. W. Jordan, Savoy, Champaign Co

6

11 C7

Mixed.

C. E. Walcher, Millersville, Christian Co.

8

l8 80

Black

E. Barnett, Bible Grove, Clay Co

12

7.O1

Mixed

J. Beckemeyer, Buxton, Clinton Co

12

1 1 34

Silver mine

Nellie Toland, Humbolt, Coles Co

12

13.88

Mixed

F. W. Pfingsten, Meacham, Cook Co

12

I^.OO

Mixed, late

W. Parr. Arcola, Douglas Co .

12

II <\4

Red Texas

E. Wiseman, Villa Grove, Douglas Co

12

2. 50

Black, late

E. Turner, Avena, Fayette Co

T.

12.?!;

American banner

R. Speedie, Gibson City, Ford Co

9

9.83

Fourth of July. . .
Common white.. .
Iowa banner

F. A. Warner, Farm 19, Sibley, Ford Co
F. A. Warner, Farm 20, Sibley, Ford Co....
F. A. Warner, Farm 21, Sibley, Ford Co....

4

2
2

17.87
ii .67

5-57

Late, white

F. A. Warner, Farm 25, Sibley, Ford Co

2

12. 10

Fourth of July. . .
Late, white

F. A. Warner, Farm 28. Sibley, Ford Co
F. A. Warner, Farm 30, Siblev, Ford Co

4
3

36.29
11 -59

Lincoln

F. A. Warner, Farm 35, Sibley, Ford Co. . . .

2

9.49

Iowa banner
Medium white...
Late, white

F. A. WTarner, Farm 38, Sibley, Ford Co. . . .
F. A. Warner, Farm 49, Sibley, Ford Co
F. A. Warner, Farm 133, Sibley, Ford Co

4

2

3

7-51
7.O2
7.00

Calgrarv erav

J. H. Beagley, Sibley, Ford Co

12

9.97

Medium white.

G. Hacker, Canton, Fulton Co

6

4.68

Mixed

F. Scanlon, Avon, Fulton Co

9

9.51

Mixed.

F. Roobe, Schultz Mills, Greene Co

12

21 .93

White.

R. Clark, Elvaston, Hancock Co

9

5.83

Mixed

W. Sandquist, Colona, Henry Co

6

11.05

Mixed

C. Hurliman, Cisna Park, Iroquois Co

9

4.65

Black

H. G. Easterley, Carbondale, Jackson Co

9

I. 00

Early black

F. Decker, Jerseyville, Jersey Co

12

22.24

Mixed

F. Heaton, New Burnside, Johnson Co

9

31-7^

Mixed.

L. Snow, Vienna, Johnson Co

12

n.86 .

Kansas

F. L. Viall, Manteno, Kankakee Co

12

6.08

Texas rust proof

L. Crosby, Wichert, Kankakee Co

12

2.93

Mixed.

J. O. Finley, Oneida, Knox Co

15

5.72

Mixed.

S. J. Haight, Jr., Mendota, Lasalle Co

9

4.52

Mixed

W. O. Perry, Cornell, Livingston Co

15

18.25

Mixed

F. Gardner, Beason, Logan Co

6

13.15

Mexican gray

F. J. Basting, Vuton, McLean Co

12

8.90

Mixed

E. J. Soloman, Carlinville, Macoupin Co

9

2.88

Early black

G. Hollenbeck, Tonti, Marion Co

12

ii .47

Mixed.

R. Hill, Whitefield, Marshall Co

12

8.22

Silver mine

W. W. Stone, Mason City, Mason Co

6

7.87

Early black

E. Westerman, Metropolis, Massac Co

6

6.67

Mixed

A. E. Wade, Athens, Menard Co

12

5.83

Lincoln

G. Lee, Jr., Hamlet, Mercer Co

12

24.50

Black

J. Schmidt, Hecker, Monroe Co

12

15-13

Mixed

R. J. Simonson, White Oak, Montgomery Co.

12

6.42

Mixed.

F. Alford, Franklin, Morgan Co

6

12.43

Texas rust proof

W. H. Rowe, Jacksonville, Morgan Co

9

1.83

Black. . ..

H. Moore, Atwood, Piatt Co

6

8-34

Early white ..

E. G. Ham, Perry, Pike Co

9

17.14

Early black

R. Endicott, Villa Ridge, Pulaski Co

9

1.3-31

Early white

W. Eckhardt, Buffalo Prairie, Rock Island Co.

9

12.65

Iowa silver mine
Early white
Golden medium

Wm. Montgomery, Reynolds, Rock Island Co.
F. W. Ladage, Woodside, Sangamon, Co. . . .
James L Reid Delavan Tazewell Co

3

12

3

4.78
11.65
i. Co

Mixed ;

R. Bines, Ridge Farm, Vermilion Co

12

3-47

1901.]

TREATMENT OP OATS FOR SMUT.

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62

BULLETIN NO. 64.

[March,

tgOI.j rkEATMENT OK OATS FOR SMUT. 63

of May and June, so that there is no outside evidence of the pres-
ence of the smut plant. When the oat plant begins to head out,
the slender smut threads penetrate the oat kernels and develop
each kernel into a mass of smut spores.

TREATMENT TO PREVENT SMUT.

It has been found that it is possible to treat the seed oats so as
to destroy the vitality of the spores of smut and not injure the life
of the oat kernel. This treated seed will raise a crop of oats free
from smut. If there are no smutted fields near by where the treated
oats are grown the oats will not become smutted again for several
years. It is believed that treatment once every fourth year will
keep the oats practically free from smut.

HOT WATER TREATMENT.

The apparatus needed for treating seed oats in hot water con-
sists of an ordinary scalding kettle, one barrel, several gunny
sacks, and an accurate thermometer. The farmer may use his
ingenuity in the selection of apparatus, making- use of whatever
conveniences he may have at hand by which he may accomplish
the desired result.

The kettle, holding from 35 to 60 gallons of water, should be
filled two-thirds full, and the temperature of the water raised be-
tween 132° F. and 137° P. The barrel should be placed near the
kettle of hot water, and be filled with cold water. The gunny
sacks should be large enough to hold two bushels of seed oats,
which can then be dipped into the hot water. The sack of oats
should be stirred about in the hot water so that the oats in all
parts of the bag will be treated alike. To assist in manipulating
the sack, a sweep, arranged as shown in the illustration, can be
used to advantage. After treating for five minutes . in the hot
water at the required temperature, dip at once into the barrel of
cold water in order to cool the oats and prevent steam from collect-
ing in the center of the bag. Sow immediately without attempting
to dry.

PRECAUTIONS.

1. An ordinary Fahrenheit thermometer to be had at any
drug store costing from ten to fifty cents can be used after it has
been compared with a standard thermometer. It should register
as high as 150° F. and should be known to be correct at 135° F.

2. The temperature of the water should not be allowed to

64 BULLETIN NO. 64. (March,

fall below 132° F. or the smut will not be completely destroyed,
nor should it rise above 140° F. , as the vitality of the seed oats is
likely to be injured.

3. After -dipping in the hot water, the oats should be dipped
immediately into the cold water to prevent over heating- in the cen-
ter of the sack.

4. Care should be taken to sow a sufficient amount of the
soaked seed per acre. The oats being- wet and swollen there is
danger that too little seed will be sown. It has been found that
about two pecks per acre extra measure should be used.

5. Owing- to the fact that there is very little drying- weather
at the seeding- time of the year, it is practically impossible to dry
the oats and they must be sown immediately. It has been con-
sidered necessary to sow by hand, but reports received by the Ex-
periment Station from farmers who tried sowing- the wet oats in
an endg-ate seeder indicate that this machine may be used success-
fully, and in the northern part of the state a number of farmers
used the force feed drills for sowing- the wet oats, and report
success.

In case it is not desirable to treat the seed for the entire field,
enoug-h can be treated to sow four or five acres. This can be har-
vested and threshed separate from the rest of the field, and these
oats can be used for seed the following- year.

It has been found that the simple treating- of the seed oats by
the hot water quickens germination, and the young plants make a
more vigorous growth,* thus increasing the yield independent of
the smut.

COST.

Two men in one day can treat enough seed oats to sow forty
acres. The cost of treating is, therefore, next to nothing, not ex-
ceeding 10 to 12 cents per acre. Nor is it necessary to treat the
seed every year in order to keep the oats free from smut, for treat-
ment every third or fourth year will practically prevent all loss
from this fungus.

RESULTS OF TREATMENT AT DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES.

Four varieties of oats, representing the varieties of white and
black oats, commonly grown in Illinois, were used in this experi-
ment. Each variety was sown in three different plots, but as one

* Bulletin No. 87, Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station.

1901.]

TREATMENT OF OATS FOR SMUT.

plot in each variety was used in getting- samples for the purpose of
photographing1 the results, the yields of only two plots in each case
were secured. The seed was heated at 125°, 132°, 137°, 140° F.,
and in each case the treated seed was compared with a plot of un-
treated seed to determine the effect of treatment.

In the illustrations are shown samples of oats cut from one
plot of every treatment of all four varieties. The stalks of smut
were separated from the healthy stalks, counted, the per cent, of
smut determined, and the smutted stalks tied into a seperate bun-
dle. The -bundles of smutted stalks were then placed beside the
bundle of healthy stalks, and the per cent, of smut placed under
these bundles, after which the photograph was taken, so that the
illustrations show clearly the actual effect of the treatment on the
per cent, of smut in the different treatments of each variety.

By reference to the accompanying tables the per cent, of smut
and the yield per acre of both grain and straw can be seen. It will
be noticed that the effect of treatment was not uniform in all the
varieties so far as yield is concerned. The general effect of treat-
ment at 132°-137° F. was to increase the yield per acre, while at
140° the yield of the Sibley white was reduced, probably due to
injury to the seed in treating at this temperature. On the other
hand, the yield of the Leisman oats at 140° was greatly increased,
In all cases there is a variation due to the difference in soil or other
conditions, but the general tendency is to an increased yield in the
treated fields over the untreated fields.

The per cent, of smut was greatly reduced by the treatment at
125° F. while at 137° F. and 140° F. the smut was practically all
destroyed by these treatments. In general it may be safely said
that treatment by hot water at 137° F. will destroy the smut in the
oats, and benefit rather than injure the germinating power of the
oat.

SEED TREATED FIVE MINUTES. TEMPERATURE 125° F.

Variety.

Smut, per ct.

Grain per acre,
bu.

Straw per acre,
Ib.

Sibley black No. i

tX

50.

4560

Sibley black No. 2

2

56.20

4">oo

Sibley white No. i

o

33.70

5720

Sibley white No. 2

1^

37.80

5080

Iowa prolific No. i

5

41.80

474°

Iowa prolific No. 2

3

48.70

4280

Leisman's No. i

i

48.70

4840

Leisman's No. 2

i^

47.50

4880

66

BULLETIN NO. 64.

[March,

SEED TREATED FIVE MINUTES, TEMPERATURE 132° F.

Variety.

Smut, per ct.

Grain per acre.jStraw per acre,

bu.

Ib.

Sibley black No. i l/2 48.10 4300

Sibley black No. 2 J^ 46.20 4680

Siblej white No. I I 37 .80 4460

Sibley white No. 2 y/2 36.80 3800

Iowa prolific No. i I 50. 5120

Iowa prolific No. 2 % 50. 4480

Leisman's No. I i 47-5° 4880

Leisman's No. 2 o 42.50 5680

SEED TREATED FIVE MINUTES, TEMPERATURE 137° F.

Variety. Smut, per ct.j Grainbpu<;r **"*' ^^ fiT ^

Sibley black No. I o 43. 10 4940

Sibley black No. 2 o 48.10 4700

Sibley white No. i i% 42.50 4560

Sibley white No. 2 ^ 32.50 5040

Iowa prolific No. i - o 47-5° S12°

Iowa prolific No 2 l/$ 53 .70 5160

Leisman's No. I o 42 . 50 4560

Leisman's No. 2 o 48 . 70 4840

SEED TREATED FIVE MINUTES, TEMPERATURE 140° F.

Variety. ~ Smut, per ct. Gr&^ ™**™r^ acre'

Sibley black No. i o 48.10 4860

Sibley black No. 2 i 37. 50 4960

Sibley white No. i 2 22.50 4560

Sibley white No. 2 ^ 34. 30 3700

Iowa prolific No. I l/2 48.10 5100

Iowa prolific No. 2 o 51 .50 4600

Leisman's No. i o 56 . 20 4700

Leisman's No. 2 o 5jj_. 4600

SEED NOT TREATED.

Variety. Smut, per ct. Grainper acre, Straw per acre,

Sibley black No. 1 77777.. 9 36.80 5220

Sibley black No. 2 36.80 4420

Sibley white No. i 8 27 . 50 3680

Sibley white No. 2 7 32-5° 44&°

Iowa prolific No. i 8 44 .30 4820

Iowa prolific No. 2 .' 7 46.20 4440

Leisman's No. i 2% 43. 70 4640

Leisman's No. 2 2>£ 43 . 70 4360

FORMALIN TREATMENT.

The formalin treatment for smut has given such satisfactory
results that this method of treatment is recommended wherever it
can be given. The ordinary commercial formalin, a forty per cent,
solution of formic aldehyde, was used. This material can be ob-
tained of most druggists, or if they do not have a supply on hand
they can easily secure it from a chemical supply house.

1901.]

TREATMENT OK OATS FOR SMUT.

The apparatus necessary for treatment is a tub, several gunny
sacks, and a supply of formalin. Use one pint of formalin to twen-
ty-five gallons of water. Dip the seed oats in the gunny sack into
the tub containing the water and formalin. The sack of oats
should be so arranged that all of the oats will be submerged.
Leave the sack of oats in the water for ten minutes, after which
they can be taken out and sown immediately. The water need not
be warm although it is less disagreeable to use warm water. If
the oats are allowed to drain a few moments as the sack is lifted
out of the water, the twenty-five gallons will treat twenty bushels.

COST.

The cost is about the same as in the hot water treatment.
Several barrels or tubs can be used, so that a large amount sf seed
can be treated in a short time. The formalin is inexpensive not
costing more than twenty-five cents per pint.

RESULTS OF FORMALIN TREATMENT.

As can be seen in the illustrations and by examination of the
accompanying table, the formalin treatment destroyed the smut in
every variety. Similar results were obtained at Sibley and other
points in the state where this treatment wa^ tried. The yield per
acre was increased and the fields were entirely free from smut.

FORMALIN TREATMENT OF SEED.

Variety.

Smut, per ct.

Grain per acre,

bu.

Straw per acre,

Sibley black No. I

o

48. 10

4700

Sibley black No. 2

o

48. 10

t/^w

4060

Sibley white No. i

o

31 .20

412O

Sibley white No. 2

o

40.60

494O

Iowa Prolific No. i

o

"51. 10

534O

Iowa Prolific No. 2

o

55-

SI 2O

Leisman's No. i

o

56.20

4840

Leisman's No. 2

o

69.30

4340

68

BULLETIN NO. 64.

{March,

THKATMF.NT OF OATS FOR S.MT'T.

BULLETIN NO. 64.

{March,

1QOI.]

TkEATMENT OF OATS FOR SMUT.

71

TiN NO. 64 \Mai\h, igoi.

ORGANIZATION

BOARD OF TRUSTEES, UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

THOMAS J. SMITH, Champaign, President.
RICHARD YATES, Springfield, Governor of Illinois.
MARTIN CONRAD, Chicago, President State Board of Agriculture.
ALFRED BAYLISS, Springfield, Superintendent of Public Instruction.
SAMUEL A. BULLARD, Springfield. MRS. A. A. ABBOTT, Chicago.
MRS. MARY T.CARRIEL, Jacksonville. F. L. HATCH, Spring Grove.
FRANCIS M McKAY, Chicago. A. F. NIGHTENGALE, Chicago.

THOMAS J. SMITH, Champaign. MRS.C.T.ALEXANDER, Belleville.

THOMAS J. BURRILL, PH.D., Urbana, Professor of Botany

and Horticulture, President.
J. IRVING PEARCE, Chicago, of State Board of Agriculture.

H. AUGUSTINE, Normal, of State Horticultural Society.
H. B. GURLER, DeKalb, of State Dairymen's Association. -

MARTIN CONRAD, Chicago, Trustee of the University.
FREDERIC L. HATCH, Spring Grove, Trustee of the University.

STEPHEN A. FORBES, PH.D., Urbana, Professor of Zoology.
EUGENE DAVENPORT, M.AGR., Urbana, Professor of AnimalHusbandry.

THE STATION STAFF.

EUGENE DAVENPORT, M.AGR., Animal Husbandry, Director.

THOMAS J. BURRILL, PH.D., Botanist.
CYRIL GEORGE HOPKINS, PH.,D., Agronomy and Chemistry.

STEPHEN A. FORBES, PH.D., Entomology.
DONALD McINTOSH, V.S., Veterinary Science.

JOSEPH C. BLAIR, Horticulture.

GEORGE P. CLINTON, M.S., Botany.

WILBER J. FRASER, B.S., Dairy Husbandry.

L' UIE H. SMITH, M.S., Chemistry.

ARCHIBALD D. SHAMEL, B.S., Farm Crops.

CATHERINE M. McINTYRE, Secretary. .

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