STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 119 



hot sun. The growth may be large, but it is not of the best l^ind; 

 there is more sap than can be well disposed of, and rust is likely to 

 take possession. 



You have often seen such a result after a wet winter or injudicious 

 irrigation. Damp, overcast weather, such as is common along our 

 coast in summer, is also favorable to rust. A field is often rusty in 

 spots on account of a storm which throws the grain down in .those 

 places. The i)lants are more or less broken, so that the sap is im- 

 peded, and the circulation of air not being free, it becomes close and 

 favors the fungus. The same conditions of the atmosphere that favor 

 the potato bliglit, also a fungus, promote the growth of rust. The 

 potato blight tirst appeared in force in this State, a few years ago, 

 after several hot, sultry days. At the time I was on the reclaimed 

 lands near the mouth of tlie San Joaquin River, and noted the sud- 

 den appearance of rust in hitherto healthy helds. It was specially 

 noticeable wliere a shower of rain had lodged the grain. 



Now I have little doubt that some present have been wishing that 

 I would have done with describing this disease and prescribe some 

 medicine for it. It may as well be confessed, once for all, that we 

 know of no positive cure. The fact that there is a standing reward 

 of $25,000 in Australia, for tlie man who shall find such a cure, is 

 proof enough that it is not known. Our main hope seems to be in 

 what the doctors call constitutional treatment— a general toning up 

 of the patient. There are certain parts of the State where the condi- 

 tions of climate are so bad that wheat is almost sure to rust. It would 

 Ibe best to give up the crop in such a place and try something else- 

 barley, rye, or oats, for example. If your land holds the rain-water 

 too long, drain it, if you can do so at a reasonable cost. You can hnd 

 out the probable cost, and benefit by trying a small piece first. If 

 you irrigate your grain land, do not put the water on after the usual 

 time for winter rains to cease. The latest experience indicates that 

 it is best to wet your land in the fall, plow and sow early, and then 

 trust the rains. 



Tliere is one method of avoiding rust in wheat which is unques- 

 tionably good. Tliere are certain varieties of wheat which are much 

 less subject to injury from its attacks than others. By sowing them 

 we can greatly diminish the chances of loss. Several have already 

 considerable reputation in this State, but do not seem to be as widely 

 known as they deserve. The Odessa wheat is highly commended by 

 the farmers of our southern coast, particularly about Anaheim and 

 other places in Los Angeles County. 



They tried it, at first, in a small way, and were so well pleased that 

 this year several large crops are reported. I had a little plat sowed 

 with it in our experimental garden at the University last winter, and 

 it has fully borne out its reputation as withstanding rust. There 

 were only a few stalks that showed any traces of the fungus, and those 

 had not enough to injure them. Almost all of the other wheats in 

 the garden were rusted to some extent, and some were entirely ruined. 

 The grain is not one that would, by its appearance, attract a farmer 

 who has been in the habit of raising the large white varieties. It is 

 rather under-sized, judged by the California standard, and of a dark 

 amber color. There was an impression at first that it would not sell 

 well, but tliere was a sale of a considerable quantity reported in San 

 Francisco, a few months ago, at full rates for milling. A farmer and 

 former miller who happened to be present when the matter was under 



