The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-05-27
For the Anderson lntell,gencer.
RUST IN wHEAT--pRIMARY CAUSES AND
PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT.

Mr.. EDITOR: AS this is the season when farm
CROP they are made by past experience to feel
great uncertainty about it in consequence of the
fatal effects of the rust, and when he meets his
neighbor the first question osked is "Have you
seen any rust yet?" and the conversation then
turns upon the cnuses and effects. But confess
that have never heard any one say he believed
he knew precisely the causes and the manner in
which it develops itself upon the wheat stalk and
grain.
Well, do not say that can give you ON accu-
rate solution of this rust problem, but will give my
theory, and if you see proper, by publishing it,
some farmers mind may be drawn out on this
subject and we might thereby get at the cause
and probably be able to apply remedy for the
disaster.
But to my theory. believe there are two pri-
mary causes both of which are necessary to the
production of rust, for we may have either of
these causes md not the other and no rust will be
produced. These causes 1 believe to be-1ret,
grouing heather and very hot sunshine. The first
produces an abundance of sap in the stalk, caus
ing it to become very tender; and from examina-
ton find the outer skin to be very thin-so thin
rs to be even transparent; and have also found
that under every speck of rust on the stalk there
is q split. This speek is on accumulation of sap,
which has exuded from the inside of the stalk
through the split thus made, having dried by COM
ing in contact with the atmosphere and sun.
The second cause which is the hot sunshine,
causes or produces this split by heating the sap,
thus causing it to expand, as you well know that
anything when heated expands, especially any
liquid substance-such as an abundance of sap in
wheat stalk.
AS proof Of this theory, all know that wheat
which ripens early does not have rust that is it
gets ripe before the temperature of the sunshine
(Which is every day rapidly increasing about har-
vest time) is sufficient to produce this expansion
of sap. which splits the stalk thereby loosing the
properties that would otherwise go to make full
plump grain. Another proof of this theory is,
that some .eas0I1s the rust appears the leaf of
the wheat stalk, but never appears on the stalk,
and the result is tolcraby good crop. Let us
plants feed upon and receive nutrive ingredients
from the atmosphere by means of its leaves. For
instance, the houseleek, parsley, pea-vine and
the wheat plant, TO o certain extent. The rust
appearing on the wheat blade destroys it, Grip
pling the plant by cutting off a part of its feed
ers, thereby lessenng the quantity of sap or
liquid substance, and the skin of the stalk thus
becoming tough is not easily split by the hot sun.
So you see remedy Is applied, or in other words,
the disease in that case has applied its own reme-
dy; and the rust not appearing on the stalk, we
get not good crop, because the plant has been
crippled, but toerable crop.
Then if my theory is correct, early sowing,
high manuring and proper selection Of seed would
be remedy for rust.
Respectfully,
LARKIN NEWTON.