On the Disease of Rust. 59 



X. Facts and Observations concerning the Disease of 

 Rust, as it affects the Wheat, and other Cerealia. 

 In a letter to the Editor, from his Brother, Mr. 

 Richard Peters Barton, of FrederickXounty, 

 in Virginia. 



YOU are desirous, I find, to obtain information 

 relative to the Rust, and have proposed several queries 

 in regard to this disease, which I will answer, as far as 

 I am able. , 



The evil here was greater than was supposed, when 

 you left us. Many crops were nearly lost, and few es- 

 caped without material injury. 



The information you received, that the Shanandoah 

 lands are subject to rust, is correct. It is also true, that 

 all the river-lands in Virginia are subject to the disease. 

 In short, it is the evil of all our lands lying in low and 

 moist situations, especially such as lie contiguous to 

 swamps and marshes. 



This disease appears ts me to be intimately connected 

 with an excess of moisture combined with immoderate 

 heat : for neither, without the agency of the other, will 

 produce it. A succession of rains, from the beginning 

 of June until harvest (the period when the rust generally 

 prevails), will not produce the disease, if the weather be 

 pretty cool, and the air not stagnant. Lively currents 

 of air accompanying rain, or immediately succeeding it, 

 will, I believe, always prevent rust. Neither will exces- 



