The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1844-06-17
The Farmer
tErom the PHILADELPHIA Inquirer. ]

M, DISEASES OF WHEAT. In his excellent
D.,o, ma the Commissioner of Patents, Mr.. Ellis
18Th ,ludes to the methods Of preventing the dis
and attacks to which the wheat crop is exposed
II, s,vs that at the time when the field is struck
.,h met seems to he Just at the time Of ripening
,.morkablc fact on this subject is stntcd in re-
,,,t orthe New Jersey Agricultural Society. An ex-
,nodmary field Of wheat, supposed to be out of dan
50, IN A hot day, became drenched by n sudden
,bovcr. which cane on between one and three o.
,lo,t p NJ. All was still; and on passing away of
III, shower, the sun came out intensely hot. The
owner went into his field to examine his wheat, which
be found much pressed down by the shower: he i'm
medntey perceived continued ticking, or swapping
noise, in every direction. The straw was fine and
bright; but on examining il, he found it bursting in
snoh Sits one quarter Of an inch long and the sap ex
aiing from it, A day or two after the whole field
was darkened with rust, and the wheat nearly ruined
Another instance of the same kind is also related -
The conclusion stated is-that the loss of the sap,
running out and becoming dried on the straw occa-
stoned the rust. The ancient Greeks and Romans
attributed spst 70 the effect of weather on the grain
a. b; aforementioned above, and had prayer 10
Al, supposed Rubigo, or rust, FOR the purpose of
raring or the disease
lie says that TO avoid the fly, manuring high at
seed,im and sowing late, were resorted to. But
that this was attended by mildew and rust. The
best means Ofprcvention are first, good, dry lonmy
soiwel prepared by cultivation aud not too recently
manared Secondly, cover the seed about two inch
deep, either with drill plough, that it may have
good hold Ofihe soil, and not be thrown out by win
lerfOd Abiding to the various expcdients TO pro-
nc wheat from smut he says;
zone directs the wheat, after being thoroughly
washed, to be SOaked ten or twelve hours in sal;
water, as strong as it be made. 1t is further
said that no injury will result fn lies in the brine
snldy provided it be in a cool place. After thus
soaking It, let it be lined. hroher person recon-
mnd TINT the seeds, when placed in the brine, be
aiHtd W thoroughly, so that the light seeds may
nee 10 tie mrlace, and be SKINNED off; Afterwards,
AR@e brine he drained into tub, and the seed
hhy spread ON me floor, and sicd with quick lime,
1.-THE rate of one gallon 10 bushel: and, after care
folly stirring the lime through the seed few times,
Ills allowed to remain few hours and then sown.
The seed which underwent the perfect cleaning
gave return Of pure wheat; and that which was
@wN in its natural state infected with smut, and
had amhture also of chess
Northumberland report on agriculture, it is
saiedlia NIr Cuey, who grew annually from 400
10 6Ooacres ofwheat, had but one instance of smut
in forty years, aud this when the wheat was not
stepped Another experiment was tried on seed, in
which we're a few balls of smut One third beng
stepped in chamber ye, and lined; one third stepped
10 The same, and moi lined; and the reminder with
0a' sleeping or lining and the result was, that the
seeu picked and lined, and that picked and not
"me' were free from smut, but the other had smut
ny ears IN abundance. Another experiment was tried,
Oy taking peck fvery smutty wheat, of which one
nail was sown in its natural state, and the other half
washed as clean as possible, in three waters, soaked
@O NOurs IN brine strong enough to bear an egg, and
Oas0ed with lime; the result was, two-thirds oc the
'ow"'hed was smuity, but of the picked and lined
'''o' mere was Full crop, without single of
''u' similar experiment, somewhat varied, is
VIC following; OF four sacks of smutty wheat one
"'N was soaked in strong brine only; one prepared
WI" "'ne only; one soaked in strong brine, and
"'" ''y IN lime all night, the fourth was sown with
''' anything; the result was, where brine only was
'''' III" and then there was a smuty ear, but not
a. w. "'ere lime only was used, there was about
'"'"e quantity of smut; where lime and brine
u'eo' not single smutty ear could be found;
y ""e'e nothing was used, it was mass of smut.
1uO'"eF experiment, however, mentioned in the
r'an'er wheat sailed at the rate of quart
IN. w oOsAe'' succeeded offectually in prevent