September i, 1884. J frHE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



189 



members of an important Agricultural Society arc often 

 heard to declare with the utmost dogmatism that the 

 mildew or red rust of wheat is caused by au exudation of 

 the sap of the plant, which is caused by a stoppage of the 

 upward flow, through the hot weather partially ripening 

 or drying the stem, the sap theu combining with the 

 oxygen of the atmosphere and becoming rusty, in the same 

 way as iron. Now, any one who examines the so-called 

 rust with a microscope can see that it is the completion 

 of a fungoid growth, and everyone who can read should 

 know that its history has been published time after time 

 during the past 1U0 years. The most rudimentary know- 

 ledge of chemistry should teach them that oxides of veget- 

 ables do Qot exist, and they must have a magnified idea 

 of the pneumatic power of the roots of the wheat plant, 

 if they think that they are capable of splitting straws. 



"What does it matter, whether it is a fungus or a burst- 

 ing out of a sap," says one, " the effect is the same — 

 the farmer loses a portion or all of his crops through its 

 ravages."' But it is a matter of the very highest import- 

 ance that the true nature of this as of all other farm and 

 garden pests should be known to every cultivator — so 

 that he may carry his enquiries in the proper direction. 

 He or they may possibly find that there is a predisposing 

 cause for any particular pest, or that there is some practice 

 that can be adopted for nullifying its injuries. Instances 

 of this fact are quite common. Thus, in sheep we have 

 the footroot, which is the effect of a fungus, and the 

 scab which is caused by an acarus or subcutaneous louse. 

 At one time people did not know the origin of these 

 diseases, and suffered great losses; but careful enquiry dis- 

 covered the causes, and further research revealed the 

 remedy — the first is curable most readily and cheaply by 

 paring away the affected part and treatment with carbolic 

 acid and .sulphur, whilst the scab " insect" — it is really 

 not an insect, but an acarus — is destroyed by the use of 

 various 'lips, sueh as tobacco-water, sulphur, carbolic acid, 

 &c.; the fungus affecting wheat, and known to farmers as 

 smut, can be killed by dipping the seed in a solution of 

 sulphate of copper or other solutions that are not sn cheap 

 or so certain — because the spores of this kind of fungoid 

 parasite are sown along with the wheat and grow up with 

 the plant, but the spores of the Puccmia graminis, or 

 Uredo vera, or by whatever other name it may be known 

 in its various developmental stages, do nob attack the 

 wheat plant virulently until the grain begins to fill. Until 

 then, it may exist in a comparatively harmless form either 

 upon the leaves of the plant or upon adjoining vegetation, 

 such us barley, grass, or other weeds — in European countries 

 the Bi ■ barged with being the prolific host upon 



which iEcidium is produced, the spores of whieh atts 

 wheat become Uredo vexa or Pucciuia graminis. This 

 discovery resulted in the removal of all barberry bushes 

 from the vicinity of wheat fields with markedly 'good re- 

 sults. Hut there are other hosts upon which the red rust 

 lives, and it must be discovered which they are, so that 

 they too may be destroyed. It is quite useless to apply 

 any dip or dressing to the seed wheat to prevent red rust, 

 because its nature is quite different from that of the bunt 

 or smut— it would have no more effect in preventing the 

 attacks of ret rust than it would have in preventing 

 trespass of pigs or other animals. So far as enquiries have 

 been conducted, it has been found that a close, warm, 

 moist and calm state of the atmosphere at the time of 

 the wheat plant is forming its seeds is most favourable to 

 the rapid propagation of red rust, and it is known that 

 this fungus feeds upon the nitrogenous juices of the plant, 

 resulting in an insufficient nutrition of the wheat, which 

 ripens without being properly filled up — or being " shriv- 

 elled," as it is termed. Intelligent farmers are by no 

 means convinced (hat this cannot be vanquished, and it is 

 suggested that the preceding host-plants can be discovered 

 and perhaps destroyed; ami that a better state of ventil- 

 ation amongst the crops through drilling the seed in, as 

 well as a more perfect tilling of the soil, and more liberal 

 nutrition of the plants might prove beneficial. It is also 

 hoped that an earlier maturing variety of wheat may by 

 obtained or produced by selection, or that some rariete 

 may be found that will not be so easily injured by the 

 fungus. 



Takeall, again, is a pest the origin of which is not yet 

 thoroughly understood, but it is rccognisi pedes of 



fungus or perhaps bacilli living upon the roots of plants. 

 How it is propagated, or by what means it finds its way 

 into our fields, has yet to be discovered, as well as the 

 methods for combating its ravages. 



Something more than a very strong suspicion is enter- 

 tained that a good many insect and perhaps some fungoid 

 pests are carted on to the fields in England and elsewhere 

 in Die farmyard manure. It is more likely to be proved 

 or otherwise by the English farmers than the Australian, 

 but our market gardeners and fruit growers ought to 

 direct some attention to the matter, because they are 

 more couversant with the use of manures than many of 

 our farmers. After the first heat of fermentation is over 

 in the manure, a great variety of insects and fungi take 

 possession of the heaps, and their ova and spores, along 

 with the seeds of plants that are flying about, may be 

 carried on to the ground. AU this could be prevented 

 if it were possible to bury the manure before ferment- 

 ation, in which case its value as a fertilizer would be much 

 enhanced, since the whole of its volatile portion would 

 be absorbed by the soil. 



For every evil to which farmers and gardens are subject 

 there is a remedy, but before the remedy can be applied, 

 the nature of the evil must be ascertained. The farmers 

 and gardeners can help themselves very materially by 

 carefully observing when the attack commences upon their 

 plants or animals, what are the conditions preceding and 

 following the attack, special circumstances attending it, 

 and any other particulars. Nothing is too trivial to be 

 noted, but the notes must be made carefully. Surmise, 

 or mere assertion without proof does more harm than 

 good. For instance, during a late discussion upon takeall, 

 one person said it was the effect of salt in the soil, 

 because he had found a mineral which looked like salt 

 in the same field; another said it was the effect of three 

 species of insects, neither of which probably feeds upon 

 plants, one such as is found near the bung of a vinegar 

 cask, another which is found under dung, and the third 

 an insect with a pointed tail, which insects destroyed all 

 the roots of the plants, a third stated correctly that he 

 had found the roots of the wheat and other plants whole, 

 but covered with a kind of blue mould. 



For some time past our horticulturists have been troubled 

 with a multitude of pests, both insect and fungoid, and 

 their variety seems to be ever increasing. Only within the 

 last few days a hive of Ligurian bees was brought over 

 from Queensland, which the importer asserted was " full 

 of gallery moths and larvse," and as he did not destroy 

 them, it is most probable that our bee-keepers will be 

 troubled. Careful observation of unknown pests, and the 

 application of discovered remedies for those with which wc 

 are acquainted, will enable us in time to fight these various 

 pests, whether plainly visible or only microscopic. Those 

 who believe in the " survival of the fittest" theory may 

 neglect these persistent parasite pests, which are so prolific 

 and retentive of life under the most adverse circum- 

 stances, but the man who believes in the nobility of his own 

 species, and the dominion given him over all things, will 

 not begin to go upon all fours until he has comp 

 satisfied himself that be is inferior in nature and organis- 

 ation to the aphis and mealy bug, or the mushroom and 

 toadstool. — Adelaide Olsew i r. 



A VISIT TO THE OIL AND FIBRE WORKS 

 AT PLN. " FORTITUDE." 



i;V THE HON". II. HOWELL JONHS. 



My curiosity was aroused by the samples of coconut 

 fibre which were given tome by Mr. Mustard, and which 

 I had the honour of laying on the table at a meeting ol 

 this Society, on 10th May, 1883. I therefore determined 

 to take the first opportunity of visiting the estate on 

 which these were made. Consequently, on the 17th of 

 May, I found myself wending my way, accompaniet I 1 v 

 Mr. Mustard, towards Mahaicony, in which district Plant- 

 ation Fortitude is situated. No sooner had we arrived on 

 the creek road, which has recently been put in order, 

 than I found I was indeed in the land of coconuts. Sugar 

 was nowhere, and King Coconut reigned in his stead. 

 Wherever one looked, coconuts in all stages of growth 

 surrounded the observer. And a pretty sight it is to see 



