Evening journal., 1899-11-17

The following interesting article on
asparagus rust has been prepared by
the Delaware College Agricultural Ex-
pertinent Station:
This disease has been known to exist
in Europe for nearly a century. There
it has never reached the proportions ofl
a serious trouble. and its sudden ap-
pearance in this country in such q
malignant form is matter Of surprise.
1t is thought that certain climatic con-
ditions may have prevailed throughout
the Eastern Atlantic States, which in
the years 1896-9S were unusually favor
able for the wide dissemination Of thel
trouble; conditions which are not like
ly to prevail indefinitely.
This view enables US to look more
hopefully into the future, and to be-
lieve that it will not continue as Sc
rious menace to the asparagus grower
as it has been during the past few
years.
The disease made its appearance in
this country, at least to any noticeable
extent, in 1896, when it spread rapidly
over Long Island, New Jersey, Della
ware and Maryland. Since then 1t has
extended Westward as far as Michi-
EdlA anu OOAltAn al "a tto AetA e-a NHN Ct++N
linas.
The rust attacks the tops covering all
parts above ground. Since the roots
gain their nourishment from the tops
any injury to the latter must greatly
weaken the roots, and thus lessen their
ability to produce sprouts the next
year.
The injury or loss of crop which
may result from an attack of rust has
been estimated to vary from IS to so
per cent. In one notable instance
where q loss of so per cent. was OBJ
served, scarcely a sound root remained
in 1899 as the result of a serious at
tack during the previous year.
The rust appears upon the stem as
rusty brown or black blisters, which,
when examined, are found to be rup-
tured, and show within masses Of a
powdery material composed of the
spores of the fungus 1t is these spores
which, when blown about by the wind
scatter the disease from plant to plant
1t has been shown that it takes about
three weeks for the plants to show the
rust after they become infected.
The rust may appear in three distinct
forms-the Spring or yellow rust. th'
Summer or brown rust and the Fall OF
black rust
The Spring or yellow rust may ap-
pear upon the young shoots during tht
time the crop is being cut. At this
time it does no marked damage excep
to supply a stock of spores to infec
the tops later on.
The Summer or brown stage may ap
pear in July or August and does thl
greatest amount of damage for the rea
son that this is the season when tn
tops are doing their best work II
storing up food for the roots.
The earlier it appears in the Summe
the longer the time il has to do It
vicious work
Later on i. e., in September tn
black rust appears; in other words IN
rusty brown blisters change in color {
a jet black The three stages OF rus
may all appear each in turn and in sea
SON AS a rule, however, the Sprin
stage is absent, and only the Summe
and Fall stage appear.
In other cases both the Spring an
Summer forms may be absent and onl
the last or Autumn stage show itsel
In this case little or no damage ma
be done the crop the following yea
for the tops will already have done th
best part of their work, and VIII 500
die natural death.
HOW TO CONTROL THE TROUBLE
II has been thought well to burn IL
patch over late in the Fall after Il
brush is dead and dry. as by so doir
large numbers of spores will be d
stroyed. Following this light, bl
evenly distributed dressing of lin
should be given the land This wi
helpt to destroy many spores which Il
heat has not affected. Do not mo
the tops, gather and burn, for by
doing the spores are widely scatter
over the ground.
Spraying for the rust has resulted
only slightly diminishing the injuI
and considering the trouble and e
pense involved, it is not likely to p
for itself. No beneficial results ha
followed the use Of commercial fer
lizers. The best means of controllil
rust Is by careful attention to cultuI
methods.
In all fungous diseases of plants thr
factors enter in determining the Sc
business of an outbreak.
First-A sufficient number of spol
must be widely disseminated over
plants.
Second-A suitable condition
weather must prevail at the time
Immediately following the Ilhle WI
the spores become disseminated.
Third-The plants must be so wei
ened in vitality as to make them
easy prey TO a disease.
Not that strong thrifty plants
never attacked by one or another ki
Of malady but that they are bet
able to outgrow any injury which n
befall them.
Furthermore. it is fact of comm
observation that good methods Of {
tivation and care are the best vi
OK protecting plants from the seri
consequence of fungous attacks
Stimulate your plants in every p
aible way TO q vigorous growth
half the battle is won against the
merous enemies of the farm and 2
den. This can be accomplished in
main by more frequent and thorol
cultivation Of the soil. which tends
set free available plant food, and Z
to conserve moisture and enable or
to withstand the depressing effects