The Greenville enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1870-1873, 1870-08-17
The Cause and Prevention of Rust in
'u - Cotton. .... 'r.-
an Essay read before the Pomo-
logical and Farmers Club of
Society Hsll. -->.
THE CRITICAL PERIon.

THE CRITICAL PERIOD.
1t is we'll known that cotton usu-
ally rusts aLout the period Of its
fruiting. l have never known q
Young plant to be effected by the
disease. 1t is at the time of fruit
ing that the demands upon 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 substances in in
organic matter. 1t might be. ex.
pected, then, that any defect of
the sill would be exhibited at this
critical period, and the vigor aud
strength Of the plant being impair.
ed, it would fall an easy victim to
disease. 1t is a well attested fact
that manuriHg, at this time, has
often checked the development of
rust. Again, it has been observed
that cotton. mauured with guano
has taken rust, while that unma
nnred and adjacent has escaped
This fact is not singular when we
reflect that the effect of guano, cs-
pecially in small quantities, is soon
exhausted, and the plant is then
left npon very poor soils in worse
condition than if no manure had
been uscd. ~
Again, it is said that the prolif.
ic varieties, which are now Known
under the general term Dickson
seed, were found more liable to
rust than the ordinary varieties.-
The principle upon which this de.
pends will not be difficult to dis.
cover when we examine into the
exact function which the plant per.
forms in producing fruit.
Alone the plant can produce
nothing. 1t can only work mp in
to living forms the dead elements
of the soil, and, if these clements
are wanting, the very tendency 10
ffuilfulness is itself a source of
failure. -. -. :,
In the report of a ommission
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 dis
ease. This truth is sustained by
analogies from animal life. I'm
proved stock require improved
pasturage, and improved and pro.
lific plants require higher comdi.
tion of the soil. -,
THE REMEpIHs INDICATED. ~
The limits Of our essay will not
allow a further statement of facts.
From what has been said, I think
We may conclude that whatever
may be the exact nature of the
disease, it's exciting canse varies
with the varied condition of soil
and season. 1t may be affirmed
that whatevea6 unhealthy to the
plant will generally cause 1t to de.
velop rust. A general remedy is
alone to be found in judicious ma
nuring and cultivation. A special
cause will often require the appli.
cation of a special remedy.
There is disposition among the
purely practical farmers of the
country TO ascribe the disease to
some general cause, such, for ex.
ample, as the presence Of the poke.
weed, and to seek for o remedy
applicable to all cases. In tI,is
view, common salt is sometimes
recommended ar a panaeea. The
value of salt, both as O manure
and as q remedy for mildew in
grain, constitutes one of the most
vexed questions in the literature
of English agriculture, and its val.
ne in this country seems equally
uncertain. Some remarkable facts
have been stated to me by several
OF our best farmers, attesting its
value as q preventive of rust. But
it 10 difficult to account for its ac-
ton in this respect. Its base con-.
stitutes one OF the least important
elements which enter into plants
and its value as a.septic agent
must be inferior to both lime and
ash,s. Its effect in destroying in