1882.] FUNGI INJURIOUS TO VEGETATION. 163 



earth up well. Have the rows from two feet eight inches to three 

 feet apart in gardens, and three feet or more in the field, for late 

 varieties; may be rather less for others. If there is danger of 

 frost, cover along the rows with short litter, about enough to hide 

 the plant from view. Plant, if possible, in land not occupied by 

 the same crop the previous year; and plant the late kinds if possi- 

 ble in a field by themselves. Use medium size sets, or cut sets if 

 large, about twelve to eighteen inches apart in the row, according 

 to size. If the sets are very small, they need not be so far apart. 

 Manure in autumn, and use potash salts or bone phosphate in the 

 spring; or else make a compost of manure, earth, ashes, etc. Earth 

 up twice. The tops may be cut off of those required for seed, if 

 the tubers are large enough. Harvest late kinds sooner than is 

 usually done. If there appears any disease amongst the crop, 

 sorting over will be required. If you have the convenience, store 

 your crop for a time, and not put in pits until November. On 

 harvesting, separate the diseased from the healthy ones." The 

 direction given to ''earth up twice," is not needed with us; while 

 in the moist chmate of Britain, the crop is benefited by " hiUing;" 

 the conditions are quite different with us, and, unless in a very wet 

 summer, flat culture gives better returns. 



While the potato crop is an important one with us, its failure 

 does not bring such consequences to our farmers, as it does to the 

 Irish peasant, whose hfe, and that of his family, may be said to 

 almost depend upon the success of their all-important potato crop. 



The "Wheat Rust. 



The farmer who sees his hard-earned grain, almost ready for the 

 harvest, shrink to worthlessness at the withering touch of a de- 

 stroyer, naturally asks the important question: " What is this so- 

 called rust that covers my hands and clothing with an orange-colored 

 powder?" It is a minute fungus known to botanists as Puccinia 

 graminis. With the statement that the rust is due to a minute 

 parasitic vegetable, let us endeavor, with the aid of the micro- 

 scope, to more fully understand its real nature and its habits of 

 Hfe. 



To begin at the proper place in the life history of this fungus, 

 we must observe that grain stubble, in autumn, is often covered 

 with small, black, or dark-brown streaks, which might be easily 

 mistaken for weather-stains. If the whole plant had remained 

 upon the ground, the leaves and stalks would have had these same 



