SEED TREATMENT OF SMALL GRAINS ADVISED AT VPI Seed treatment of spring oats is 1 particularly important this year to control loose and covered smuts . —diseases which have caused! widespread losses in recent years. S. B. Fenne. plant disease special- I 1st at VPI. says theie was much I more smut on oats than usual in 1952, and this means more seed will be contaminated. Second blights also can be largely controlled by chemical seed treatment. Fenne's advice: Be sure all small grain seeds are thoroughly cleaned Defore treat ing. A cleaning Job will remove all undersized, shriveled, diseased grains, and will leave a more uni form lot of seeds to be treated. Proper cleaning also will remove weed seeds that may be present. Treat at least 24 hours before I planting with one-half ounce of 1 ceresan dust per bushel of seed. Treatment may be done several i weeks before planting if the seed , is stored in a dry place. A mixing machine, such as a barrel, a cement mixer, or an old churn, will be needed. A chute ar i rangement called the Minnesota Seed Grain Treater is easy to use. It saves time and does a thorough ; job. It is easily built on the farm, : and plans are available from county agents.

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