The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1884-08-23
How Parasites Affect the Farmer.
BY A. ". WILLIAMS.

AS the time for sowing wheat is near.t Is
well to consider some of the circumsta nces
necessary for good crop. One Of the
essential points is evidently good seed. In
some places the people soak their seed in q
certain preparation to be described here
after, for the purpose of preventing smut.
This appears to be an absurd practice, as it
is not easy to sec how soaking the seed this
year will prevent the smut affecting the
plant next year. But things re not always
what they seem, and this, instead of being
an absurdlty, is Il very sensible idea, and
every farmer should understan nd the reason
why. This smut is in fact plant, and
develops itself with just as much certainty
from seed as the wheat. 1t is one of the
class called parasites, a name given to
other plants. Now the seed of the smut
attaches itself to the seed of he wheat, and
is So small as not To be distinguished by the
naked eye: but the washing in the prepared
liquid either kills its vitility or removes.it.
The operation has been performed for years
by many OF my acquaintances who hal M
idea Of the reason for doing as they did. =.
but they knew IL produced the desired effect.
Another parasite affecting the wheat is
the rust. Not long since | was present at
Farmers Club where one of the members
explained his idea of the cause Of the rust.
He said it came in damp and warm time
when the wheat was growing very rapidly,
and the plant WAS 81 full ol juices that the
vessels burst and the sap oozed out and
dried on the surface of the straw, aud this
dried sap was rust. This is very common
opinion among farmers, but is entirely
wrong, This rust is true parasite, a liv-
ing plant, nd requires Tor its development
moisture and a high temperature. do not
know of any remedy or preventive, but il
is well to unders tand its true nature.
These microscopic forms OF life are the
greatest enemies the farmer Of the future
will have to fear, as it lie 50 fficult to COM
la. enemies of when we know So little.
Wonder rfn discuv cries haye recently been
made which show that large proportion Of
the disases that affect mankind are pro-
duced by microscopic living thiugs-inseets
or fungi. The measles, different kinds Of
fevers, small pnx, cholera and consumption
are probably hll of this character That the
pear blight and peach yellows are produced
in this way Is very probable. as this theory
does give good explanation Of the lacts,
which no other theory as yet hiss done.
We see then that our bread, our fruit'and
our health depend on a knowledge of micro
scopic life,and this is true 10 d much greater
extent than most of us imagine. In max
ing bread, the fermentation 10 caused, not
as commonly supposed by chemical action,
but by the development Of hvining plants
visible only with a microscope. When the
is produced 10 the silo, it is
not in consequence of the air alone, for the
air would do no harm were il not for the
fact that it contains the germs which be
come developed into life. When we can
fruit We heat 1t simply to kill the living
germs it contains. When we bring home
fresh meat in warm weather ii IS heated for
he same reason, and if necessary to keep
i many days, il is necessary to heat it a
number Of times. The subject of mieroseop- |
C Lille is very interesting and instruetivej |
but we only prnpose to call attention to such |
acts as every farmer needs understand 10 |
his business 10 the best advantage. |
Connected with each topic tn which have
ll!uded are certain facts too valuable to he
overlooked aud well worth the attention Of
he readers If these columns.