Diseases of Cereals : Rust and Take-all in Wheat. 719 



and its ravages are so wide-spread, especially in the northern areas, 

 as to seriously aifect the yield. From its generally occurring in 

 patches it is difficult to estimate the total loss, but in South Australia, 

 where it is particularly had (and has been known since 1852, though 

 its cause undiscovered), it is said in some respects to be more dreaded 

 than rust. In the Report of a South Australian Commission appointed 

 to enquire into it in 1868, it is stated that " Rust cannot commit 

 wholesale destruction, unless in connection with a description of 

 weather such as we rarely have in this Colony, but take-all appears 

 altogether independently of the weather, and as its ravages are irres- 

 pective of climatic inlluences, so are its movements inexplicable by 

 reference to locality or soil. It is, like last season's rust, to be found 

 everywhere, and the richest soils often suffer the most." 



The discovery of the true cause enables us to attack the disease 

 with some hope of success, and the field experiments being carried 

 out this season are shown in the accompanying plan. 



Goornoug was chosen for these experiments, because it was 

 possible to secure there a block of 9 acres which was very badly 

 affected last year, and the soil as a consequence must be well 

 saturated with the spores of the fungus. 



The plot consists of 9 acres, and is divided into three portions. 

 The first portion was sown with wheat to which various manures and 

 chemicals were applied. The second was sown with oats, because the 

 take-all fungus dues not attack this crop, and it will be sown with 

 wheat the following season in order to see how far the fungus has 

 been starved out by being deprived of its natural food, the wheat 

 plant. The third 2:)ortion is laid out in early falloAv, because it is the 

 experience of many farmers that early fallowed land with plenty of 

 rain escapes the take-all, and this may be due to the fact that the 

 action of the sun and the moisture favour the germination of the 

 spores of the fungus, which having no plant to prey upon will 

 naturally soon perish. As a matter of convenience the fallow is laid 

 out in strips, alternating with those of wheat. It is believed that the 

 action of some of the chemicals which have been applied to 

 the soil will have the effect of destroying the spores, and 

 should patches of take-all show after all in some of 

 the plots, powdered bluestone and powdered sulphate of iron 

 will be respectively applied in order to see how far they act as a 

 check. Viewing the matter from the farmer's standpoint, special 

 attention is being devoted to finding some inexpensive substance 

 Avhich can be applied . with the drill at time of sowing. The 

 experiments will be conducted for three years, and should throw some 

 light on the best methods of treatment. Burning the stubble has 

 also been recommended, and that is also being tried. 



Meanwhile, on land subject to take-all, continuous wheat growing 

 should not be practised, but a crop or two of oats should be grown, 

 to be followed by wheat, since it is fairly well established that wheat 

 after oats does not suffer, at least severely, from the fungus. 



