The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1842-10-06
RUss.IL ECO.sU.MI.
From the Albany Caiiioafor.
RUST OR MILDEw ON WHEAT.

season by rust. Some districts, II Is true
, have entirely escaped. but il is certain tho
, the difficulty has been widely aud most 10
, iuriously felt. There is scarcely dlseas'
incident to our cultivated crops, the org''
Of which is involved IN greater obscuniy
than is that of miIdew. Some have atlrlb
uied II TO honey dew on the plants; some Il
the influence OF particular plants, as the bar
berry bush; some TO irregular and a,mos
pheric agencies; and some to the attacks
of species of minute fungi or parasitic
plant. Ia the investigation OF aay subject
il 10 well 10 ascertain what Is actually know
respecting IL, as tho course may facilitate
further researches.
Thus We know that particular state o
the atmosphere invariably precedcs an al
tack OF rust on wheat. While the weather
remains OF low and equabie temperature
dry, or free from excess Of moisture, rusI
never appears; and even high tempera
lure does mol produce II Il tho weather be
dry. So far as the atmosphere Is concern
ed, two things appear accessory TO produce
rust; excess Of moisture. and high ten
perature; things that produce rapid, and
IN ordinary cases, unhealthy vegetation.
The presence Of minute fungi. or para
site on wheat thet Is widowed, Is also Ger.
tain; The only doubt seems TO be-, whether
this fungi IS the cause Of tbs disease, or on
" consequent on It's presence. This fungi,
(Puccinia gtaminis Of the books, seems 10
form beneath the cuticle Of the stern. and IN
I its progress to maturity, bursts forth IN lon
giudlnai clusters Ike grapes. Of DARK col
or. These nre filled With spofules or the
seeds Of The fungi, OF a bright brick red col
or, and when they open, give 10 the stalks,
or 10 the whole fields, iha,red sombre hue,
80 characteristic Of rust. A very good Fl
cure Of this fungi, may BE- seen q, page 100,
Of the Cuitivator for 1910.
The stale Of The atmosphere 10 those dis
trIcts where the disease has been, most ex-
leusively developed, has been, 50 Gar as We
have been able to Learn, ho, and vet. at
least 1t has been so, Immediately preceding
the attack. Thus The wheat VI the central
counties OF New York. appeared unusually
fion, and The promise Of grea, crop never
better. until the first week 10 July, OF trV;n
the 9th 10 the 10th Of the month. A, that
period, heavy showers alternating with hot
close weather, gave the farmer sell ground
ed fears for the safety Of the wheat crop I;
and the speedy appearance OF the rust,
showed tina, his fears were Unsuitable. BY
the l6h, many fields OF wheat exhibited
that peculiar dark hue. which al distance
shows the existence Of the evil. and by the
18Th or 20 h, the flung, we're fully developed
and the sporules or rcd dust thrown Of IN
immense quantities. The iuiId odor that
marks the attack aud progress Of this mil
dew IN these cases aas most marked aLd
offensive. THIS year. as 10 oil others when
rus, prevails, It's attacks are most Irregular
and seemingly unaccounisble. Some fields
will escape, while others at little distance
are almost or quite ruined. So some towns,
or districts, are scarcely touched, While
those adjoining suffer severely. This diff
ference 10 districts a.ay be attributed to the
range Of showers varying The quantity Of
moisture, &c. bu. some other causes must
be sought Tor the variation where isrms are
adjoining. or perhaps 10 d,iEefen, fields 90
the same farm. We have seen one part OF
a field scarcely touched. aud the gram Gil.
ing and rIpenlHg - ell, whils on another part,
1t was not worth harvesting.
Wo have found no Il,,le evidence the
presen, srasou 10 confirm our former im
pressions that the disease is to be traced 10
tho fret place TO The sollening Of the cu,leIc
Ut the plants by excess Of moisture accom-
panied by great heat All plaDts 10 this
state become for the time, feeble aud debl
Iiaied. The soitenlng u their surfaces, eau
ses them &c break OF lnl down more easily,
aud this danger IS increased by The greatly
increased flow OF sap which prevails under
such circumstances. This IS Infested dy
the rapid growth " all plants, which have
not bad their progress arrested by approach
'ng maturity. II is al ihls time, that the
mldow first shows Itself in the lona iiudInal
sIHn or grooves 0! the leaves aud stems Of
the wheat. The cuiicle is ,uptured, aud
minute bodies resembling a, their first up
Pearance, gam, or some clear substance,
NF'"e " PihhluSlhB i9VH the
rup'ufed polnts. The cuilclu il forced
ou,wards, dries and forms those Whue
points that givo the stem Of widowed
wheat such ragged appearance. THIS
clear substance soon assumes darker
hue; Tho seed vessels OF the funn, bccomp
visible, aud but comparatively few hours
eiapsc before these vessels arc mature, bufs,
and the red sporucs or fungi seeds cover
the gain. la the meaniimo, the roots Of
the fungi have penetrated The interior Of
tho stalk, deranscd the internal pofcs. oh.
slruc,ed the flow Of the lltccs, or so chanr.
cd Their character rs to render them una.
bic or unit TO complete the maturing Of the
plant, or the grain IN the ear; the FIRST te
NAN staiionaty, green aud immature the
latter not receiving tho supplies Of aluten
ava starch necessary TO ~ peri. ctlnn,
shnhIs aud IS worthless. Wnh a Ra.nnl
microscopes OF 300 magniiying power, We
have had frequent opportunities of ,racrnp
r"gress OF miidew; aud as we think, yefi
Tying The details here gwen Of its nction.