Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 11, Number 10, DeMotte, Jasper County, 23 January 1941 — Seed Treatment Proves Good Crop Insurance [ARTICLE]

Seed Treatment Proves Good Crop Insurance

Seed treatment is one of the most important phases of crop, insurance. Not only can the crops be diseasefree, but in most cases freedom from disease results in increased yield. Therefore, the use of high quality treated seed is a big step forward toward success. Now is the time to make preparation for treating wheat, oats, and barley for smut. There are several materials on the market that, if properly used, will give good results. The first important step is to learn exactly the method recommended. If instructions as to the proper method of treatment are not followed, it is a waste of time and material. Copper carbonate and mercurial dusts are suitable for the control of seed-borne diseases in a wide range of seeds, because they control a large number of seed-borne diseases besides smut. For this reason" they can be used with crops of Wheat, oats, barley, beans, and others. Formaldehyde is still popular with many farmers but this material must be properly applied to give good results. The placing of a teaspoonful of formaldehyde in the top of a sack of grain and then turning the sack upside down for treatment is ineffectual. Formaldehyde when exposed to the air vaporizes as a gas; this gas is heavier than air. The above procedure prevents the formaldehyde from coming in contact with the seed.j