110 PRIZE ESSAY : 



Brgot—CocksTpmr ; natare of this body no longer a mystery, 238.— Early opinion 

 regarding, 238 ; M. lulasne's opinion and discovery. 238(a).— Medical effects of 

 ergot, 240,— Localities where it appears, and dreadful results from the con- 

 sumption of ergoted wheaten bread in England and rye bread in France and 

 Germany, 241.— Ergot common in pastures when undrained; common in 

 certain grasses. 



K,tFST — Uredo Rubigo. 



1 90. Many eminent American agriculturists consider * rust ' 

 to be the greatest enemy which the farmer has to encounter in 

 the cultivation of wheat on this continent. Compared with the 

 ravages it sometimes occasions, the depredations of the Hessian fly 

 and wheat midge fall into the second rank. Its attacks are so 

 unexpected and universal that it has been likened to a sudden 

 whirlwind of blight, which sweeps over thousands and tens of 

 thousands of square miles of country in the short space of a sin- 

 gle night. * Struck with rust' is an expression more common 

 and more to be feared than that frequent visitation in the early 

 spring months, which we are accustomed to hear deplored under 

 the term, ' nipt by the frost.' " In the Northern States general- 

 ly it produces more disaster to the wheat crop, than all other 

 diseases and all insects put together."(i> 



191. It is quite needless to enumerate the different theories, 

 as they are termed, which have from time been advanced, to ac- 

 count for the appearance of rust. Every purpose will be an- 

 swered for the objects contemplated in this essay, if the origin 

 of rust be traced and described. It will be useful to enumerate 

 a few instances of the appearance of rust in the United States 

 and Canada. 



192. In 1837 rust was common in many parts of the States. 

 Its appearance was preceded by very hot weather, followed by 

 rain. In many districts the wheat crops were suddenly and 

 totally destroyed. 



193. In 1840 an extensive rust blight occurred in Northern 



(I) Prize Essay, N.Y. S.A.S., John J. Thomas, 134a 



