No. 105.] 53 



Onondaga and Cayuga counties. I was particularly struck with the 

 severity of the rust in the valley north of Homer, through the town 

 of Preble, and a part of Tully, where the surface is geologically 

 above th-e limestone stratum of Onondaga — and the absence of rust, 

 — and the bright straw, as I reached the strong limestone soils in the 

 valley of the Onondaga creek. The change was so sudden, and 

 marked, that one could hardly avoid the conclusion that the mineral 

 composition of the soil had much to do with the development of 

 this blighting malady. I have no doubt, that, if the wheat growers 

 south of the Onondaga salt group, and in most localities on this group, 

 (which extends from Madison county to the Niagara river,) would 

 -apply lime, salt and ashes to their wheat fields, these alkalies would 

 not only act as preventives against rust, but largely increase the 

 -crop. Mr. S. M, Brown, of Elbridge, President of the Onondaga 

 Agricultural Society, harvested this season over 400 bushels of 

 wheat that weighed 65 lbs. per bushel, on eight acres of land. This 

 crop was grown on a clover ley. The clover had been limed and 

 plastered, and three bushels of salt per acre were sown at the time 

 of seeding. Several farmers have applied to their wheat fields the 

 compost of lime, salt and muck or mold recommended by the under- 

 signed in his last report on agriculture in the Legislature. The re- 

 sult has been very satisfactory. The following is the explanation of 

 the manner in which this compost is believed to prevent rust, and 

 favor the growth of wheat. 



This plant contains lime, soda and chlorine. Soda and chlorine 

 ■form common salt, which, like the salts of lime and potash, are quite 

 soluble, and liable to be washed out of cultivated soils. The frequent 

 application, in small doses, of these constituents of wheat to wheat 

 fields, must be advantageous, irrespective of rust. It is believed 

 that the production of a bright, hard and glassy stem, is a pretty sure 

 preventive of this evil, whether it be a disease of the plant, or a 

 parasite, or both. We infer that soluble silica, or such sand as forms 

 glass, has much to do in making a bright glassy straw, for the reason 

 that the ashes of wheat straw yield on analysis from 67 to 81 per 

 cent of silica. As the sand in the soil that furnishes this silica is 

 quite insoluble unless combined chemically with potash, or soda, or 

 both, we see the great value of salt to yield soda, and of wood ashes 

 to yield potash, not only for wheat, but for all grasses. By mixing 

 salt with recently slaked lime, in the proportion of two parts of the 

 Matter to one of the former, (which should be moistened, and again. 



