The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-01-20
.HE FAYORS SEED
THAT'S HIGH BRED
Asst Secretary Hays Makes VAL
liable Suggestions Bearing
on Wheat Culture.
MILLING QUALITY NOT
SOLE GAGE OF VALUE
He Would Encourage the Use of
the Sure Producing
Varieties.
By w, W. Jermane.

M. Hays, assistant secretary of agricul
ture, has some decided views regarding
the seed-wheat question, which is now
agitating the spring wheat sections Of
the northwest. When the Journal cor
respondent today asked him to express
his views on that subject for publica-
ton, there was prompt response. Pro.
fessor Hays handles questions without
gloves, and is not at all in sympathy
with the idea of importing Canadian
wheat for seed. His views were given
The Journal at length, and they
will be heard with interest in Mime
sofa and the Dakotas. He begins with
a statement explaining the causes and
character of rust in wheat, and from
that goes straight into discussion Of
seed for the present years crop. He
says; , 8. ..o,o,
on the seed-grain problem. I expect
that the Minnesota experiment station
will have something to say on that sub
.ect soon. 1924
eIn large section Of Minnesota and
the Dakotas the wheat is too much
shrunken to be used for seed. This
shrunken condition was caused almost
wholly by the disease known as rust.
spores of thread-like fungus half an
inch or so in length, which, in turn,
bears more spores. The spores falling
on the leaf Of the wheat early in the
season, germinate, and the thread-like
sprouts HID their way thru the minute
| breathing pores or holes in the skin
| of the plant. The thread-like rust
plant bores it's way. for half an inch
or more thru the tissue Of the leaf and
| goes to seed. That is, ION the end of
this little rust fungus spores are formed.
These are in such large masses under
the surface of the leaf that it's skin
is burst and the mass of spores are
exposed as yellow blotch.
Disease Doesn't Immunize.
! 4. From. the first infection till dis
ease breaks out requires about eleven
fdays. Since 8 few days are required
! for the spores to be blown about, alight-
| ing on other leaf surfaces, we may say
that the perior of incubation is about two
weeks. This disease is not like mea,
sles or smallpox, as it does not i'm
/ make new infection on the plant on
which it grew or on another plant.
| There is strong suspicion that these
minute spores can ride on dust particles
for long distances. But the notion that
they live on seeds of wheat, as do the
spores Of sinking smut, is erroneous
Since rust can multiply every two
weeks, if the spores are supplied with
water, from rain or dews. for several
hours, to enable them to terminate, a
season favorable to rust causes it to
multiply in, sufficient quantity to over
whelm the wheat plant.
Last year supplied the rain or dews
; every , week to germinaatte thu
multiplied probably tenfold, every
generation, and by harvest time simply
overwhelmed the wheat plants, just al
in the last Stages Of that Disease al tSa
;, the patient is overcome. In many way
the yellow plague on wheat is like tn,
white plague in man.
Gin 1905 it is likely that there will
be periods several weeks long in which
there will not be sufficient moisture OF
rust spores to germinate, thus prevent
ing recurrence Of last years rus
scourpe. Just how the pest lives owe
winter and gets started on young whea
plants, is not determined. The infec
tion may blow from the south, from re
gions where it lives on winter wheat
, tho it is probable that some spores ar
on plants other than wheat. With goo,
u seed, the chances are evidently nearl,
as good as usual for a crop Of wheat.
Rust-Resisting Varieties.
"The heavy grains which may b
. graded out Of rusted wheat, make goo
seed. No doubt, as Professor Bolley ha
suggested, part of these heavy kernel
; are from plants resistant to rust, an
therefore are somewhat especially bre
for country subject to this disease
Certainly, the new fife and blue-ster
varieties Minnesota No. 1853 and Min
nesota No. 1859, bred by the Minnesot
, and North Dakota experiment station
, in co.operation--ar somewhat rust re
! sistant. This is proved by the fac
that these varieties yield 90 per cen
, more than the wheat they are displae
ing, in years Of much rust, as well as i
years Of little rust.
eff these statements are true. tn
, farmers, dealers and millers should a
| once recognize fully their economic in
portance and act accordingly.
t And action should not be along