The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-08-23
RUST IN OATS-WHAT IS TIP

Throughout the whole southwestern portion of
the Union, the oat crop has suffered from a terri
BILE blight, which from its resemblance to the fun
gus substance that sometimes attacks wheat by that
name, has been called rust So far as we are in
formed, rust in oats has hitherto been unknown.
We have never heard or read of anything of the
kind, in any section of the country. The fact that
it is thus unusual opens wide and interesting field
to the naturalist and, in this case to the entomo
logis, as it invites investigation in channel so far
as we ascertain, heretofore unexplored.
While in West Tennessee, a short time since, we
took occasion to examine the blade of the oat under
a microscope (kindly furnished us by the Baily
Troupe) and were greatly surprised by the phenom-
enon which the grass revealed. Since then we have
followed up those examinations, by the aid more
powerful Instruments, at the Medical College in
this city, in company with several scientific gentle
men, among whom where Drs. Briggs and Buchan-
an, of the medical faculty.
The of all this destruction of the oat crop
is living worm, too small to be plainly with
the naked eye. A single blade or leaf of the oat
sometimes contains hundreds of them. They lie
encascd in the tissues of the leaf or blade where
they have been germnated beneath the epidermis
or thin pelicle over the exterior portion of the
blade and they progress in development, the
skin Of the leaf is raised into curious puffy bsters
The growth of the subsequently ruptures
these, and it escapes to feed on the plant. When
first released from their covering, they of
beautiful clear, red color, almost transparent, but
soon begin to change color and form, getting more
Opaque and dark in appearance until in the course
of transformation, they become black bug, with
legs and wings, and they attack the head Or grain
of the oats. Under the microscope, the dust which
remains the leaf closely resembles that on the
wings of butterflies.
How this innumerabe army of nfnitesimal
worms originated is yet mystery. 1t is singular
fact, however, that whenever the greatest quantity
of rain has fallen, there the Oat crop has Jared the
worst. In our recent trip through West Tennessee,
we saw but single field of oats, between the Mis-
sissippi and Tennessee rivers, which was not
failure or into which it would not be folly to put
scythe blade. That field was near Denmark, in
Madison county, and was sown very early. 1t is
well known that more rain has fallen in West Ten
nessce this season than in any other part of the
State hence the extreme wet weather must have had
some agency in the production of this animalcue.
tits also well known that moisture and heat will pro-
duce and multiply animal life, millions per hour
and therein Judge is the secret of this destruc
tion of the oat crop. 1t is one of those cases of
natural phenomena which occur only at certain
stage in the growth of plants, and under peculiar
states of temperature and weather. 1t may happen
next season, or it may not occur again for many
seasons.-Southern Homestead.
THE UPs AND DowNs OF MERCANTILE LTFE.-An
incident of the late monetary crisis related to
us few days since as having occurred in this city,
showing in a fOrcible manner the hazard attending
mercantile business in this country A merchant
of Boston had, by patient attendance to business,
and general uprghtness of conduct, for number
of years accumulated fortune of some two hun
dred thousand dollars while yet in middle life, and
it seemed an assured matter that the remainder of
his days would be spent IN tne enjoyment OF TINS
ample competence. A few months before the crash,
excited by 4 rapid rise in an article in which he
tralicked he ventured in it nearly his whole capital,
and declined to sell at the repeated advances which
were offered to him. Finally, the tide turned, and
the article went with tremendous rapdity down and
down. until nearly all of the accumulated fortune
was involved in the wreck. short time afterwards
signs of insanity were detected in the merchant,
and he is now and has been for some months an in
mate of an insane asylum.-BOston Trdpetter
AMERICAN DEMAND FOR ENGLISH CATTLE.-At the
recent agricultural show held at Chester Eng land,
number of agents were present making purchases
of cattle to export for breeding purposes. Two
Durham bulls for which high price was paid,
were bought for shipment to Adelaide Mr.. Sand
ford Howard, editor of the Bosto" Crttiodtor, has
purchased twelve head OF Ayrshire cattle for the
Massachusetts, Agricultural Association; he has also
twelve head more of the breed ready for ship
ment. Some splendid SOuthdown rams, purchased
from Mr.. Jonas Webb, of Cambridge, are consigned
to Colonel Morris, of New York.
FATAL AccDENr.-As Mr. John w. Young, who
resides on the Leesburg turnpike, short distance
west of this city, was crossing Hoof's Rum Fri
day night in his cart, by some accident, the horse
fell off the bridge, carrying with him the cart,
which, in its descent, upset, throwing Mr. Young
out, and catching him under it, the sideboard fall
ing across his neck either breaking it or choking
nm to death.-AtecdHdrid Gazette.
The Jews of London intend to present to Lady
John Russell boudoir suite, consisting OF table
and four chairs, composed of solid silver, as mark
of their of the obligation they owe to her nus
band.
The democratic congressional district or the hrst
district. New Jersey met ut Mays Landing on
Wednesday, and nominated George A. Walker, OF
Atlantic.
The President has appointed Atherton Hall, dep
utv postmaster at White Hall, N Y, the order of
9Th july. designating II. W. Buel for that office,
having been revoked
The health of Savannah is said to be remarkably
GOOD. There were only ten deaths during the week
ending on the 18th, and of these seven were in
fants.
The Knoxville Register states that the telegraph
is now in operation to Greenville, and will in few
days reach Knoxville. From Knoxville they are
rapidly building the line to Chattanooga.
The powder used in firing cannon at Sandwich
Mass, TO celebrate the success of the Atlantic Tele
graph enterprise purchased in 1872 to fight the
English with.
The swamp fever has broken out among both
whites and blacks in the owlands of the Mississippi,
occasioned by the receding of the water.
The Navy Department has sent complimentary
letter to Capt. Hudson and his associates.