The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1904-09-17
SEED WHEAT FOR 1905.

SEED WHEAT FOR 1905.
I have been requested by num-
Der of farmers to explain what ef-
fects may be expected upon the
wheat crop of next year because of
the present serious injury caused
by rust upon the grain of this years
crop. There are numerous other
questions which have been asked
which most people can answer for
themselves, such as, "whetherrusted
straw is poisonous when fed to cat
tle;" whether badly rusted straw
turned under will tend to cause the
next years crop to rust" etc. There
is no information available to indi-
cate that rust infected straw is in
any way poisonous in it's action.
The straw may, indeed, this year
prove somewhat more nutritious to
animals than usual because Of the
fact that rust largely prevented the
straw from ripening the grain and
thus embodied in it more actual
nourishment. There will also. in
all probability, be more shrunken
and shriveled grain in such stacks
than usual. Thus, in general, we
believe that such wheat straw may
furnish, perhaps, more food for cat
tie than in ordinary years. In re-
gard to the question whether plow-
ing under rusted straw will tend to
produce a rusted crop next year,
[ may say that it. against all pres
ent known facts to believe that such
will be the case, provided the soil
is in such condition as to produce
a thorough decaying Of the straw.
Much stubble and straw plowed
under rots slowly, especially in light
dry soil, and is apt to cut off the
water supply from the crop during
a dry time the following season. In
case Of rust on such crop, 1t would
then cause heavy damage. The
new wheat crop does not become
infected directly from the black
spores upon the old straw. Itseems
probable that the new infection
comes each year from the red rust
spores which have blown from field
to field from the south toward the
north as the crop developes. Of
course, burning the straw and stub
ble destroys much weed seed, many
insects. and prepares the land so
that the plow car do best work. If
stubble burning was generally prac.
ticed, one might also expect that it
would somewhat lessen the chance
of great rust invasions. It cannot
however, be expected to prevent the
appearance of rust, for the rust par
asite is world wide i'm it's distribu-
tion.
The question as to what shall be
done for seed next year will, how
ever, be a serious one to many OF
the farmers of the state. It is hardly
probable that any farmer has failed
to raise seed Of such quality that
a reasonable crop may be expected
from it, provided it is cared for and
properly prepared for seeding. This
article is written to call the atten-
tion of farmers who have badly
rusted grain to the fact that any
slight injury of seed grain such as
shrinking, whether due to being
but too green, or rust, or to frost,
results in a weak termination and
first growth. If bad weather pre-
walls Immediately following seed
ing time, such weak shriveled grain
will be sure to give a poor crop.
Rust does not propagate by way Of
seed grain. There is thus no way
of treating the seed grain which
will prevent the occurrence of rust
in the crop. Because the seed which
one sows was grown upon a rusted
crop is no sign that rust will follow
its use. One need have slight feal
of rust from this cause but it is
certain that there may be great loss
l.. l1>o Go.,,o,1 ,e 4Lo o&o%o - A. 4,