The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-03-22
Loss Far Exceeds Possible
Saving By Food Conser-
walton, Says Bolley
SCOURGE's ACTION
TAKES LITTLE TIME
North Dakota Yield In
1916 Cut To 100000
Bushels In Few Days
CRv H. L. BolIey.l

year within the boundaries OF the
United States and Canada, no doubt,
far exceeds in actual money loss to
crop production any possible saving
that can be made in any food conser-
walton plans which may possibly be
exercised. On certain epidemic years
this rust scourge almost wipes out
the entire crop Of great grain produc-
ing areas and states. In 1915, in
three or four days time after the
start of the general spread of cpl
den.ic condition. this black rust
disease took a toll Of approximately
$500. 900 900 worth of crop in the
northwestern spring wheat region
alone.
When the finest possible crop
prospects existed, this disease swept
northwestward through Iowa, Mime
sofa, the Dakotas, and northwestern
Canada, reducing the great stand OF
straw, then we'll headed, to a worth
less, tangled, blighted mass, and
shriveled the grain to the stage
known on the grain market as
In North Dakota that year. on July
%, within twenty days of full crop
maturity, IL changed the yield OF
wheat from a conservatively esttmat-
ed yield of 160,e00,000 bushels to an
actual final yield Of somewhat less
than 100000 bushels of light
weight almost unstable wheat.
That epidemic swept over the great
grain fields Of the Canadian north
west, where rust had scarcely been
known before, and by high authority,
/ am informed, reduced their crop In
the region lying between Winnipeg
and Edmonton by over 150,00O,000
bushels. In these figures 1 speak only
of wheat.
Can those of us who know of these
conditions, now, take chance on
such a possible calamity hitting the
cereal crops of 1918 or 1919. when the
world will need the grain as 1t never
needed ii before?
Scattered Hedges.
The barberry bushes and hedges, in
most places, are a miserable, thorny
lot OF scattered clumps Of hedges |
usually planted for their supposed |
ornamental value on lawns and boule-
wards. Often one finds them placed |
on the boundary line, as though to |
torture the neighbours barefoot chill |
dren who might wish to walk that !
way-fencinE about private grounds. |
as one used to see the graves Of our |
ancestors fenced by high iron spiked |
pickets. even though the beautiful |
cemetery were otherwise guarded and |
fenced, and lately in larger cities on |
the grounds OF those who call in the |
advice Of unknowing, ill-informed |
landscape gardeners. " -
For over $50 years. the peasantry !
of Europe and the farmers of AM /
erica have from time 70 time appeal
ed to authorities and law making /
bodies TO control this rust scourEe BY /
eradicating this unsightly, wheat rust Il
breeding shrub, only to be told that /
they could, IL they would, kill or dig /
UP their own bushes. With two ev
captions only, and these were OF late
years, the wording of the laws or
orders has always been essentially
to that effect.
The bushes or hedges may be ex-
pected to be dug up and destroyed
without cost to anyone. except such
funds. national and state, as may
be necessary to locate the bushes,
demonstrate the methods OF destruc-
ton, and bring the matter properly
TO the attention OF the public. IL is
the easiest program of all our pres
ent plans OF disease control because.
these bushes now have no material
value in themselves. They may be
looked upon as a public nuisance and
menace and the owners win gladly
dig out these shrubs.
I challenge anyone eu name a
single valuable quality now made use
Of or 20 name a single merit for the
shrub. that cannot be replaced by a
more meritorious shrub or hedge
plant. Under present conditions, /
claim that this bush is a real menace
to the well being, health and success
OF our citizens and soldiery, and that
1t is indeed urgent that our national
and state authorities take cognizance
Of the facts involved. The farmers
Of our wheat states are not the only
ones concerned. The business men
of the cities In wheat states know
what q rust epidemic means to them,
and the poor who are periodically
skimping the bread that their grow
ing children need can also under
stand,
After long continued epiden1ics OF
black rust In Denmark, 1908, a bar
berry eradication law was promulgat-
ed. which was universal for Denmark,
with the exception OF one or two
special park and school areas. Each
year the plant Psychologists, farmers
and others interested. have searched
for evidences Of rust, and each year
they have been unable to md any
indication OF the disease. except in
a minor way in the immediate vicini>
ty OF these small protected areas.
Later these bushes have finally been
and in the year 1915
]. Lind, the official plant pathologist
VI 4&AAAHEAAa AGDUANGu LlhE LLlA UIAEk
rust has disappeared gradually, con-
temporaneously with the barberry
bushes" and further. that insofar
az the climatic conditions of Dem
mark are concerned, the barberry
bushes are necessary for the exist
snce of the black stem rust, and that
there is no evidence whatsoever to
the contrary
The North Dakota legislature in
Ak4m alamahnVR - /
wide barberry eradication law,
makingsa sufficient appropriation for
the biennial period to see that the in
tent of the law was carried out. The
OF agriculture and
labor was authorized and instructed
to enforce the law. It Is interesting
to relate that he did this so wisely
and well, and the people. when call
ed upon to eXtermlnats the bushes
did IL so freely and expeditiously that
the agents delegated to locate the
bushes and IL necessary dig them
out found only the new dug ground
where the bushes and hedges had
been. The commissioner reports that
IN nO@case did the state have to dig
4 single bush. The citizens Of the
state knew full well when they were
digging out their bushes, that while
they might stop some special local
Infections or epiden-ics. their action
could not in itself prove a protection
10 their crop against the great gene
sral epAdemlcs that sweep across the
country as did that OF the year 1915
Nay they not hope to expect that the
lfnctalB and the people of the nation
Ind particularly Of the states where
.hese barberries are most common
ma most destructive to the common
VIII see TO Il that this gem
asal menace q removed