The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-06-16

in exposing the soil to atmospheric action, and
in the other, underdrainage is the only efec-
tive remedy. But as this is not generally prac-
ticable, the best course is to give up such lands
to more hardy crops.
There is one class of lands extremely liable
to rust, the cause of which is difficult to under
stand. The isinglass lands upon our rivers are
among our dryest and most fertile SOILS. ;, In
the production of corn they stand unrlvaiiea,
and yet they almost invariably produce rust IN
cotton. When new, they are said not to rust,
and it may be that their very generous nature
has led to exhaustion in some essentlal eIe-
ment. 1t would be difficult to estimate the
amount of potash, phosphorlc; acld' hme' esc,
which these generous soils have, year aI1er an
wear Welded to the tillage of the farmer. This
view ,' Is sustained by the fact that high ma
nuring has been found an effective remedy.
THE CRITICAL PERIOD.
A third fact is that cotton usually rusts at
about the same period of its growth-about
the period of fruiting. have never known
young plant to be affected by the disease. 1t
is at the time of fruiting that the demands up
on the soil are largest. The ash of the cotton
seed amounts to four per cent. of weight, and
is, one of the richest of all vegetable substan-
ces in inorganic matter. 1t might be expected,
then. that any defect of the soil would be ex-
hibited at this critical period, and the vigor
and strength of the plant being impaired, 1t
would fall an easy victim to disease. 1t is a
well attested fact that manuring, at this time,
has often checked the development OF rust.
Again, it has been observed that cotton ma
nured with guano has taken rust, while that
uumanured and adjacent has escaped. This
fact is not singular when we reflect that the
effect of guano, especially in small quantities,
is soon exhausted, and the plant is then lett
upon very poor soils in worse condition than
if no manure had been used.
Again. it is said that the prolific varieties,
which are now known under the general term
of Dickson seed, were found more liable to
rust than the ordinary varieties. The princi-
pie upon which this depends will not be diff
cult to discover when we examine into the ex-
act function which the plant performs in pro-
ducing fruit
Alone the plant can produce nothing. 1t
can only work up into living forms the dead
elements of the soil, and, if these elements are
wanting, the very tendency to fruitfulness is
itself source of failure.
In the report of commission appointed by
the Government of Australia, to investigate
the cause of mildew in wheat, it is stated as
supported by facts that the more improved and
productive varieties were peculiarly subject to
the disease. This truth is sustained by analo-
gies from animal life. Improved stock require
improved pasturage and improved and pro-
life plants require higher condition of the
soil.
THE REMEDIES INDICATED.
The limits of our essay will not allow fur
ther statement of facts. From what has been
said, think we may conclude that whatever
may be the exact nature of the disease, its ex-
citing cause varies with the varied condition of
soil and season. 1t may be affirmed that what
ever is unhealthy to the plant, will generally
cause it to develop rust. A general remedy is
alone to be found in judicious manuring and
cultivation. A special cause will often require
the application of special remedy.
There is disposition among the purely
practical farmers of the country 10 ascribe the
disease to some general cause, such, for exam
Pile, as the presence of the pokeweed, and to
seek for remedy applicable to all cases. In
this view common salt is sometimes recon-
mended as panacea. The value of salt, both
as remedy for mildew in grain, constitutes
one of the most vexed questions in the litera-
ture of English agriculture, and its value in
this country seems equally uncertain. Some
remarkable facts have been stated to me by
several of our best farmers, attesting its value
as preventive of rust. But it is difficult to
account for its action in this respect Its base
constitutes one of the least important elements
which enter into plants, and its value as a
septic agent must be inferior to both lime and
ashes. Its effect in destroying insect-life is
well known, and in England it has been found
equally destructive to fungus growth. 1t is to
this that Professor Johnston ascribes its value
both as preventive and remedy for mildew.
Whether it acts in this way upon the disease
in our cotton plant, would depend upon wheth-
er it were of the same character. propose
during the present season to make some care
full experiments to test the value of salt as
preventive of rust.
EDWARD E. EVANS.