Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1871-06-30
MAZOMANIE.

Ed. CHRONICLE I'm my return Hoine,
I find the farmers in this neighborhood,
and in the northern part of your county,
very much alarmed about the Wheat rop
The rust they say is setting in to fearful
extent, and the probabilities are, in their
estimation, that but little, if any of the
crops thus effected will mature.
have received to day from parties who
have been out examining :the wheat crop
in reference to this, specimens of the plant
said to be effected, from diff srent places,
and have examined them carefully with
the Microscope, with the following re-
suits :-.
The leaf when magnifed with an ordi
nary power, looks something like the skin
Of child that has been exposed to a tenn
perature beyond what it is able to bear,
and consequently small blisters are raised
on the surface beneath which wound or
diseased condition of the flesh will be
found. In this blistering condition of the
leaf, find in almost every instance, the
SIX or outer membrane is broken, and by
contraction drawn back so as to expose
the wound beneath These openings, so
far as my observations have been made
are elongated, and always parallel to the
longitudinal passage or channel of the
fluids.
In examining these little blisters in the
leaf or the wounds beneath the blisters,
with higher power, it is distinctly seen
that all circulation O. the fluids or sap in
this place is stopped, and the fluids or sap
changed into glanular condition resen-
bling sugar. The grains or crystals-for
such they seem to be-are very distinct
and uniform in size and appearance, and
when dry, rub off like rusty powder.
These little blisters do not seem to in
crease in size, but the leaf around them
soon withers and dies, leaving this pow
der (Which is the rust,) free to move, and
which is, from its adhesive nature, often
found on the other leaves and stock of the
plant, giving them it is true, rusty ap-
pearance, but beyond this think, doing
no harm. M.
From the specimens have examined, |
am satisfied that the diseased condition Of
the plant is confined to the leaves, and to
the lower leaves at that. The stock in
every instance that I have examined,
seem to be perfectly sound, and in a
healthy condition.
No one of course can say positively
what the cause is or was, that producec
this diseased condition Of the leaves but
] think we have reason to suppose that it
was the extreme hot weather we had about
two weeks ago, when the heat of the sun
was either more than the young tender
plant at that age could endure-hence the
blstering of the most tender and exposed
parts, or that it raised the temperature of
the sap to point not far below that at
which disqualification or premature rpen-
ing would be induced, hence it's appear
ance in the lower leaves where it would
naturally show itself first. -
Beyond ii sickly condition of the plant
for the time being. | think the damage to
the crop is not so great as some of the
farmers imagine and unless we have
return of similar conditions, especially if
we are favored with few warm showers,
aged crops may not rally. The vital or
gans of the plant do not seem to be effec
ed, and one would think there is vitality
enough left to enable it under favorable
conditions to restore the energies necessa
ry for maturity. JoHN MURRIsH.
Mazomanie, June II, 1871. ;.