Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-05-15
Rust In wheat.

Towheat growers, scarcely any subject
can be more interesting than the inquiry
into.the causes which produce that fatal
blight called rust, in wheat. Nor could
any discovery be more usefal than
that Of certain specific against this
blight. A Delaware correspondent Of the
Rural Gentleman gives his experience as
follows ... T.
IL has been the experience Of agricul-
turists that very warm, sultry weather,
ioggy mornings, or frequent light rains,
followed by returns Of bright sunshine, alto
gether, whilst the wheat is in a milky
state, produce rust. What are the in
auences Of these several conditions OF the
weatherupon the stem or stalk of the wheat,
which produce this result? Ii may be here
remarked, that the combined effects ofthese
fogs, warm, sultry weather and frequent
rains, are 10 induce a rapid growth of the
plant, and 30 render il very soft and sue
culent, In this state, the hot suns following
Immediately upon the fogs, showers and
sultry weather, suddenly contract the stem
OF the wheat and split IL longitudinallv into
AaAAAAAAIaH NAAAAktA AAHatAANfs at hE0iAiN the
stem. Then the sap Of the plant ertdles
through these assures; the atmosphere
oridi-cs this sap, giving il a redish color,
and this is the rust. Ii necessarily follows,
that the sap being thus arrested in its flow
through the stem, thrown out upon the sur
face, and diverted from the head, the grain
must fail for want of nourishment.
Some years ago, having sevelh bushels
Of wood ashes or hand, 1 determined 10
try an experiment by spreading these
ashes upon my wheat. AcCordingly, when
the wheat was beginning 10 joint. and
when there was a slight mist, l directed
my laborer 10 spread, with the hand, these
ashes upon my wheat, at the rate of per
hsis eight bushels 10 the acre. IL came on
10 rain too hard for him 20 continue this
labor, and he left OF spreading these ashes
in the middle Of a land. The rust was
general and fatal that year in my neigh
borhc ID, and my wheat, where TIE ashes
had not falle,i, ~ wen as the wheat in the
neighborhood, was 40 much injured by this
disease, ~ 20 be hardly worth saying; bat
| remarked, with surprise and pleasure,
that wherever the ashes had fallen upon
Ithe wheat, even up 20 the middle Of the
lAliAf MNHtS Alat tatANI was AliHlnullHNGd.s
my wheat was splendid, The stems being
strong, vigorous and OF a bright color aud
taller by several inches than where the
ashes had not been sown, whilst the heads
were heavy and full, and the grain perfect.
Here then, beyond question, was an expe-
riment perfectly tisfsctory-invaluable
indeed, IN its results ai t
Nov, as TO the effects of ashes upon
wheat, they have, like Shakspeare's "sher-
~ sack, p ''fhree fold Operation"
!. The ashes operate as manure upon
the wheat, even in the limited quantity Of
eight bushels per acre.
>. They push the wheat forward several
days, and in time 10 escape the hot. sultry
days which often prevail about the time OF
the heading ONT OF the wheat; end
3. They strengthen -the stem, giving il
substance and solidity.
may add one OK two more properties
OF the Sshes, beyond the sherry sack -
they afford just tlat q ind OF palsaluha. or
food, which Is best for The Development
and PERFECTION u The grain, and will. an
my opinion, aiso prevent the Eayages OF die
hy in wheat Would here venture the re-
mark, that whoever once tries this experi-
ment viii thereafter spread his wood ashes
upon his wheat a. above indicated: and.
in 20 doing, he will efleclually guard
against and prevent " the rust ~ in bis
wheat. iiiiI iri f'.# t-