THE FARMER'S MANUAL. 81 



:imes answer. Exchange of seed, either irom fo- 

 reign countries, or different sections of the same 

 country, will sometimes prevent rust, and will other- 

 wise well pay the expense and trouble. Crossing 

 ihe different kinds of wheat, by sowing the seed com- 

 mixed upon the same field, and thus obtaining a new 

 kind ; this will generally prevent the rust. 



The same writer recommends a top-dressing upon 

 wheat of sea-salt, or a manuring of salt ploughed in 

 with the wheat, or even with a turnip crop as pre- 

 paratory to a wheat crop, as a sure remedy against 

 the rust. Whenever lands become too strong by the 

 rich manures, they will always occasion the rust, and 

 they should be invariably tilled with corn, or pota- 

 toes, as a preparatory crop for wheat, and then dress- 

 ed with salt, or plaster only ; but never with the 

 rich manures , this process will generally succeed, if 

 the seed is pure. The same writer goes on to ob- 

 serve, that wheat sown with rye, by way of meslin 

 (so called) is never subjected to rust, either in Eng- 

 land, or in Italy, and closes all his ingenius remarks 

 upon the causes of rust, with this conclusion, " That 

 the disease is taken up at the roots." This conclu- 

 sion goes to confirm my former remarks, which were 

 drawn from my own experience and observation. 



The same writer has given us some nice calcula- 

 tions upon the value of straw generally, as well as the 

 comparative value of the several kinds of straw, and 

 draws this general conclusion ; that straw generally, 

 either for feeding, or litter, is of one third, or one 

 half the value of hay, and should be as carefully 

 preserved, and used for both these purposes ; but ob- 

 serves, at the same time, that straw, used for feed, 

 should be given out as soon as threshed, otherwise it 

 "vill become dry and of little value. 



Remarks. 



Straw when used for feeding cattle, is most valua- 

 ble when fed out with clover, or wheft sprinkled with 

 Strong pickle, and fed alone 5 unless when cut fine 



