The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1878-06-07
RUST IN WHEAT

II Is Wltn great regret tnat we learn that
tho wheat crop in many sections is suffering
from this dreaded disease Wheat is the
most nutritious and universally distributed
food of man, as well rs the most ancient.
and the failure of a crop, would affect the
entire world. When the rust attacks only
the leaves little harm is done. but when it
is scattered over the leaves and stalks aud
the weather becomes warm and moist, it
grows rapidly and quickly destroys the crop
AS early as l767 Fontana published an ac-
count Of this destructive pest; aud since
then botapists have pursued the invcstiga
ton with much interest aud perseverance,.
1t y nov admitted by *, scientists to be a
ns!ssess ~ ssvNss nulng of
F',ccinia gramiads has '6cen given. 1t at
tacks both stems and leaves and glumcs Of
all kinds of grain, having at first an orange
colorcd appearance, resembling rust Of iron,
(hcnce the common namc.) 1t afterwards
assu..es deep chocolate color. Each of
the breathing pores of plant it is said
will produce from twenty to forty fungi.
and each of them it is believed will produces
at least one hundred spores or reproductive
PARTICLES, so that the progeny of single
breathing pore" will be enough to infest a
whole plant. The period o: termination is
supposed to be about one week. The spores
being very light are blown into the air,
alighting upon adj jaceut stems, and germinate
under the influence of warm, damp weather,
proving more or less destructive, according
to the favorablcncss of the weather for their
Increase and growth.
After the rust bcsicS q iompletc arrest
OF the filling out Of the grain takes place.
Ii the grains are in the dough state when
1T begins, it is better then to cut the wheat;
If the grains are in the milk state it will
not be worth cutting. Cutting wheat while
affected with rust seems to destroy the par
asite, and what juices remain in the straw
so to fill out the grain. Good wheat has
been saved in this manner that would have
been worthless if left in the field to get
ripe. Rust rarely attacks wheat that ripens
early, hence it is better to SOW early varie.
ties, SO it will mature before the hot DAYS
aid in the development of the disease
Plants have pores which arc closed in dry
weather, and open and expand in warm,
moist weather thus the disease spreads
more rapidly in such'wsathcr., 1t is sup
posed that'thcso pofSS xe vrAdS3GuTepLa
of the spores of this park ,ic fuhgus, when
they Immediately take root, intercepting
the nourishmcnt intended for the grain.
Some kinds Of wheat are more affected
than others, and in Northern climates fall
wheat suffers more than that sown in spring.
Farmers N England affirm that wheat sown
i'll the neighborhood of the barberry bush
seldom escapes the blight, as it is supposed
that the spores arc generated and preserved
on these bushes. 1t is also believed that
the spores may be pcrpetuatcd by undecom-
posed straw carried out into the fields as
manure. Here, as in all fungus diseases,
thorough drainage and cultivation, early SOW
ing and early cutting, are the only remedies,
except for smut, for which we have blue
stone Salt AID lime sown on the ground
have been suggested as preventive, anu
being stmulant to growth, no doubt act
to advantage.
y distinguished German agriculturis:
states 'that about six hours before sowing
his wheat, he prepared a steep of three
measures of powdered quick lime, and ten
measures of COW urine, and poured two
quarts Of this on a peek of wheat, stirring
the wheat until every grain was white with
the preparation" BY this he escaped rust
entirely, although in ncishborins fields a
great part was affected with the disease
He has followed the practice for many years
with complete success. 1t is probable this
stimulating mixture made the growth Of
the plant so vigorous it escaped by its own
Inherent strength. A top dressing of stable
manure, followed by narrowing, will have
the same effect
Tho. Hebrews considered this disease n
special dispensatioa ef ,PSexi Ias.aq-for the
sins of the people. The Romans sacrificed
red bitch to the goddess Rubrigo to stay
the hand Of the destroyer. If this would
effect any good result, would it not be a
good idea to sacrifice a few of all colors p
Ralciyh Observer.
asparagus should not be exhausted by
too long continued cutting. The usual rule
is to stop as soon as carly peas arc ready
Recent inquiries show that it is not gcner-
ally understood that the crop of meet yea,