Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-05-18
AN ALARMING DISEASE IN THE WHEAT

To the EditOr Of the wing.
great deal of uneasiness exists among the farmers Of
this section OF the county of Hanover caused by the
cent discovery OF disease in the growing crop of wheat
Having recovered extent from the effects of
Wuerkilling began think with the prevalence of
a dry and favorable season. that troubles vel
nigh over, and the promise of crop good one. But.
at the risk of being called a prophet OF evil am
strained to believe that the disease in question will
short the crop least third it, indeed it is not inju-
ed TO much greater extent. Ii first appears mould
the lower blades of the plant presenting dirty white
appearance solution OF white earth had been sprnk
led them-this rapidly extends the upper blades
the mould in few days, changing to real rust found
upon examination have its way nearly through
the blade. The disease knoAn at different stages
mill dew and rust the blade, appeared last year.
and to greater extent in 1885, but at much later pc
rod in the growth of the wheat IL was ascrbed in 1855
the excessively rainy prevailing while the wheat
in bloom aud last year to the excessive amount of
rain which fell during the winter and early spring engen
derng redundant quantity Of sap The occurrence Of
the same disease during this uncOmmony dry spring
seems to show that it is entirely Independent of
deficiency of moisture in the land making its APP
pearance alike in thin thick wheat dry hill sides
or in rich bottoms The disc Use has, a certain
degree extended to the greensward grass in yards
where rich spots the peculiar mould may be recog
nized and there too, the changes from white to rusty
red color may be observed In the opnioa Of the writer
OF this communication the disease is produced by micro
scope insects, originating ike tue smut ulsehstu
seed wheat-but let this be taken for what it worth
his ect being to qiue but TO elicit if possible
information from his brother farmers that may be stored
up for future use Many persons of intelligence with
whom the writer has conversed to regard the dis
ease as harmless it has extended farther than the
leaves OF the plants Would that sangune view
could with any show OF reason be taken! 1t would be
singular anomaly in vegetable life if it could be shown
that the leaves Tor in other words the lungs Of the wheat
plant were of no use True is that after the pollen
has fallen and the grains formed in the head the unc
tons of the leaves cease and the process Of Filing
be carred.on entirely through cIparies of the stalk
but the present stage before the head has appeared
the leaves can't be regarded useless dppeRdges and
their injury will fear tell sadly the yield OF grain
The growing crop is damaged beyond all doctorng, and
as there particular virtue in growing, may
well trust in that kind Providence who for His own n
scruable purposes allows such evils ac and hope
for the best.
But the evil after all may not be in sour Stars" but n
the cupabe neglect of OF those precautions in the
preparation Of seed indicated by writer's ss for
ample the use of slackme and the different brines for
soaking the grain If agriculurists not ignorant
of the much neglected science Of entomology We might
perhaps have the comfort Of knowing distinctly the char
acter and cause OF the present trouble and he enabled
hereafter go inteligenty to work in the use of that
"ounce of prevention which told is better than "a
pound of cure HANOVER.