The Monitor-register., 1896-09-25

An Outbreak of the Asparagus Rust.
Within the past week the Experiment
Station has had it's attention called to an
unusual development of rust upon the
asparagus plant, and as this is new and
somewhat alarming to the truck-growers
of the State, the following items are
published for their especial benefit:
General appearance of the Field. When
the rust, the general appearance is that
of an unreasonable maturing of the
plants. Instead of the usual healthy
green color, the field has a brownish hue.
as if insects had Slapped the plants or
frost had destroyed their vitality.
Close New of the Plants. Rusted
asparagus plants, when vie wed closely,
are found to have the skin of the stems.
both large and small, lifted as if
blistered. and in the ruptures of the
epidermis d~ark.brown spots are readily
seen. The brown dots or lines are OF
various sizes and shapes. and remind the
close observer of similar spots in the
broken skin of stems of grains and
grasses and of the leaves of corn, also
due to rusts, but not the same kind as
that of the asparagus.
4EHtuJC " Gto IbUSG. kuo 6SDAr8QuS
rust is due to a fungus (Puccinia asparGgt
ID. CD. that Is, a minute plant consisting
of microscopic threads which go through
the substance of the asparagus plant,
taking up the nourishment that is needed :,
and finally breaks through the surface to
bear the innumersble brown spores that
give the dark color to the spots on the
asparagus skins. This is the last stage
in The development of the rust fungus,
and as such remains over the winter
When the warm, moist weather of spring
and summer comes, the spores above
mentioned germinate, aud a new lot of
asparagus plants may become infested.
Treatment of Infested Fields. There
are " general methods of checking the
rust, namely, by destroying the spores
and by preventing their grown g D
and getting a foothold in, the substance
of healthy asparagus plants. The rust
fungi are among the most difficult to
check-by protecting the plants they
feed upon-by means of fungicides, Bor.
deaux mixture, etc., sprayed upon them
during the growing season. While some.
thing may be hoped for with the spraying
pump in July and August, the chief
method of eradication lies in the destruc.
tion of the spores this fall. This can be
done in a very simple and effective
manner by carefully gathering all the
parts of the asparagus plants that are
above ground and burning them. 1t
would be a waste of time to stack the
tops and leave them to natural decay;
and to place them in manure heaps would
be still worse. The only safe thing to do
when a serious enemy like this is in the
asparagus field is to burn the plants aver
to the last scrap that can be gathered up.
Let this be done at once, for any delay
means the breaking up of the brittle,
rusty plants and a generous sowing of
the spores upon the ground. If the fire
could go over the whole field and burn
all the small as we'll as the large pieces,
that would be the best of all.
This autumn burning should be done
by every asparagus grower, even if the
rust is not yet seen by him. This enemy
may become very serious if thorough
measures are not taken at once and by all
who are engaged in asparagus culture.
To those who wish to add to the burn
ing process the spraying of the summer
growing plants-not the spring shoots
for market-the Station will have some
thing to recommend later on, but the
only thing to do now is to burn the
" Instead of "arbor day." let
it be a smoke day for the whole State, or
wherever there is an asparagus patch.
BYRON D. HALsTED, Botanist.
New Brunswick, September 10, 1896.
Try a can of Hopkins Steamed
Hominy (Hulled Corn). 1t is delicious.
Full at., 100.