The Mankato free press., 1923-09-21
|ROUT THE MENACE
BARBERRY CAUSE OF RUST
IN MANY WHEAT FIELDS
Newspapers In North Dakota
= And Indiana Tell Their
= Story l.

Heavily rusted grain in the south
western part of Pembina county re-
Gently led to the discovery OF fifty
common barberry bushes, growing
on the farm of M. N. Ault,' hvs miles
south Of Cavalier, where they were
located by Colin Stewart and Clar-
ence Jensen, members of the bar
berry eradication forces in North
Dakota. Badly damaged wheat tielas
gave the scouts a clew to local
source of the rust, says The Fargo
Forum. ..t.
Upon taking over the scouting in
| the territory south of Cavalier, the
iscouts found that the rust was very
heavy on the grains. Suspecting
that barberries in that vicinity were
the cause of the infection, they con-
duced an intensive campaign to 10
cate them. They questioned every
| farmer in the district. Mr.. Ault re-
ported the suspicious bushes in the
corner of his grove. Grasses ada
cent to the bushes were heavy with
rust. Wheat fields in that territory
were suffering under the load Of
genuine rust epidemic.
Mr.. Ault stated that he has had
rust on his grain more than twelve
years, and that he has noticed it on
his fields before it has appeared on
those of his neighbors. He has
signed an affidavit saying that he
lis firmly convinced the bushes have
been the cause of the early appear
! lance of black stem rust in his fields.
Instances like this, the SCOUTS say.
show clearly the relationship Of the
barberries to the rust and how, with
! favorable weather conditions, few
paintings can be the source OF
rust epidemic that will sweep over
large grain growing area. Through
demonstrations at fairs and instruc-
tions by the scouts, people are rap
idly learning to idAptify the barber
~, and are cooperating with the
eradication forces in their efforts to
destroy them. It is this CO. opera
ton. the barberry. workers declare,
which is making the campaign so
successful this year, for without this
assistance 1t would be Impossible to
loate every planting, since many OF
them are in obscure places. ....
BARBERRY BUSH IN INDIANA
A large common barberry bush,
about fourteen feet tall, and heavily
infected with spores of the black
stem rubL udo DSCu Ao0hu ~ 5o'
ernment men in the front yard OF
Murdock Brown, about six miles
northeast of Shelbyville. A field OF
Rudy wheat directly across the road
showed very heavy infection, and
other fields in the near vicinity
were also badly rusted, says The
Shelbyville Republican:
Mr.. Landy Brown, who owned the
field of wheat, stated Saturday
morning that the portion of the hetd
closest to the bush was so severely
infected that the yield would not
run over three of four bushels to
! the acre, while further away the
yield grew higher. In all the sur
rounding fields affected, It was seen
| that the portions closest to the bush
were infected more than at a great
er distance from the bush.
This is a clear case against the
barberry In its relation to the
spread of black stem rust In Shelby
county. Only early spring weather
conditions which gave rust late
start this year and the general lay
Iof the land here prevented the
snread of the disease to a still
greater distance, said H. j. Snively,
| a crop disease expert, after inspect
| ing the area affected.
Murdock and Landy Brown both
told of former severe Infection wnen
wheat has been grown around TINS
hush. and they are entirely in ac-
| cord with the belief that damage
was done by the bush. Two small
wild bushes were located in the
neighborhood and further inspection
and scouting of woods and streams
will be necessary in the locality.
Along the Flat Rock River, about
four miles southwest Of. st. Paul,
Ind where so much damage was
done last year by black stem rust.
acme additional bushes have been
located growing wild. These bushes
about eight to ten feet tall, are
covered with infection and carry
many berries. State Representative
Clarence Lowe. who owned wheat
nearby, says that his wheat Is very
severely infected. He was 7ery
much interested in the campaign
and desires a careful investigation.
as there has always been more or
| less severe infection Of wheat In
that neighborhood.
| Scouting and inspection OF rust
conditions will also be continued IN
| this region. Last year seyerai
bushes were found around st. Paul
where considerable damage has
| been done to. the wheat crap. The
work then was done In Decatur
county, and it Is believed that there
are several escaped wild bushes
from that area, which are causing
a. similar damage along the south :
eastern line of Shelby county.
The government barberry SCOUTS
will not leave Shelby county until
these wild bushes are found and
destroyed.