Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1840-07-21
agricultural.
From HE SatnrAnu Cnlr,e,.
Ff0W We SATURDAY COUrler.
ON RUST, OR BLACK BLIGHT IN WHEAT
TO tie Ell. Of lie Farmers' Cabinet:

ON RUST, OR BLACK BLIGHT IN WHEAT.
70 tie Ell. Me Farmers' Cabinet:
lcoNCLUDEDl
a too frequent repetition Of crops Of
wheat, more esDccialIy when accompanied
by great quantities Of manure to force a
crop, will often have the before-named cf-
feet. The rust was but little known in the
western and northern part Of England, or
the southern counties Of Scotland, until Of
late years, wnen every cXertion has been
made to increase the quantity Of that grain
in those countries.
I. A. Knight observes, "By crossing
the different varieties Of wheat ne1c sort
may be produced, which will completely
escape being rustcd, although crops in the
vicinity, and in almost every district in the
country, may suffer from it in the same
ycar;' and he then goes on to argue,
''thcsc circumstances tend to prove, that
the rust does mol depend solely on atmos-
Phcrlc influence; otherwise it could not be
prevented by change of seed or by the
crossing of different varieties" Now this
theory Of Mr.. knights is grounded on a
superficial view of things, and is a mere
faIlacious hypothesis. Indeed, all these
great naturalists appcarto have bcwlIdered
themselves in spccious theory, and from
not having traced the operations of nature
10 lis source, have, throughout, mistaken
Tie effect for Tie cause.
Now, suppose a farmer was to find
sheep unhapply reduced, and prcycd up
on by maggots or the Iarya Of the flesh
fly, he may very justly suppose that the
maggots reduced the sheep, and as justly
-.vrne' shat u,hafevaI, sheep would be sub
Nc'eo to maggots would be reduced in the
same manncr-thcn what would be the best
ANA proper ramedy! Knowing the mag
COS to be produced by eggs deposited by
Mes would he try to corcr his sheep from
t,'e Mes or attempt to remove them where
mere were no flies? Now, where is the
FARMER or shepherd that does not know
mat u'Sn-.IIos ~H no, dcposto their eggs
on healthy part Of Il sheep, or if they
uo' U,'' 'ncy viii not produce naggots
lney Nno" lUJI we'll, that if sheep be dis
caScd by cruptions, or if wounded, the
lies Wi" ma out those places, and there
dcPo'iio their eggs; and therefore, the
Nmedy IS slmpIc-curc and prevent the
disease, or protect the wounds, and the evil
IS avoidcd-remorc the cause, and the effect
ceases. And very similar will be found
the disease in wheat, called the rust, or
black blight, and its causes. The fungus
undoubtedly prcys upon that which is in
tended to nourish and sustain the wheat,
but wha: afforded an attraction and lodge
mant for the fungus h1s is the grand
question. 1t is stated that the fungus is n
Parasitical plant, like the msletoe, but this
Is not the fact, for the fungus has no pow
or to attach Itself to, o. penetrate the hal
thy stalks Of the wheat, any more than the
larvo OF the nesh-ny have the heating skin
Of the sheep.
Any one who will examine the stalks of
wheat growing on Il IuXuriant, rank soil,
about the time of It's frstshowing the swell
Ing the car, will perceive the vessels 10
become ruPtnred, either from the luXuriant
flow oI the sap upon the tender tops Of the
plants being checked by cold winds. or an
unhealthy ovcrtulncss, or some other ca
SUM obstruction; and the sap being thus
suddenly checked, will rupture the vessels,
amt ool' out through Little Sits, or longi-
tuooaI assures; the discharged matter will
soon assume the appearance of white
leIIy; as Il dies, it will become yellow, and
then brown, and of hard texture: and in
proportion as the sap-vcSscs are injured
ami destroyed, and this oxidation takes
place the plant must, of course, more or
less fat IN It's supply OF uourishmcntto the
gram n some cases, the strongest stalks
VIII not oe able To push the car beyond the
leaf, and tn" corn, consequently, will be
starved; and whist the season continue,
dry and cold the oNudcd sap will remain
like dry gum; but rs it advances. and III,
weather becomes warm and moist ia.
gum becomes moist, soft and putrc(yino
and then it forms and affords a nutriuy,
bed for the mould or fungus. which grow
and increases until it is deprived of moist
uro, or is so reduced as to be insufficient I
sustain it, when il dies; and according a
the season Is favorable or unlas orable I
its growth, 1t produces brown or blac
powdcrN substance ian proportional quaint