17. 
wheat was to all appearance due to the presence of some 
berberry bush in close proximity to the field in which the wheat 
was grown. The denial of such connection was based upon the 
fact—that, though there was a fungus very common upon the 
leaves of the berberry, which in ‘its young state bore some 
resemblance to the rust of wheat, in its adult state that fungus 
presented a totally different character from mildew, and belonged 
to quite a distinct genus. Botanists generally maintained this 
last opinion till very recently ; notwithstanding, the belief in the 
injurious effect of a berberry bush on wheat has remained un- 
shaken with a large class of farmers for more than a hundred 
years back. One of the most decided instances on record in 
stipport of such belief, is mentioned in the first volume of the 
periodical “ Nature,” published in 1870. It has reference to the 
conduct of a railway company in the south of France, the notice 
being taken from the “Bulletin de la Société botanique de 
France,” for January that same year :— 
“Jn the commune of Genlis, department of Céte-d’Or, a ber- 
berry hedge was not long since planted on one of the railway 
embankments ; when immediately the crops of wheat, rye, and 
barley in the neighbourhood became infested with rust. The 
complaints of the farmers caused the appointment by the company 
of a commission to investigate the subject, who reported, after a 
full inquiry, that wherever the berberry was planted the cereals 
were more or less attacked by rust ; where they were absent, the 
crops were free from the disease ; and that the planting of a 
single berberry bush was sufficient to produce the rust where it 
had never appeared before. The railway company’s Own com- 
mission held that compensation was due from the company to the 
farmers.” 
Nothing would seem to be clearer than the testimony afforded 
by this circumstance to the point in question. 
The probable explanation of the mystery, so far as it can be 
accepted, is due to the better knowledge we have now respecting 
B 
