COMMITTEE ON COLONIAL BOTANIST S REPORT. 1 1 



54. And also to the o'idium in the vine? I have. In 

 regard to that I may say there is no improvement on the old 

 plan of dusting with sulphur. 



55. As this is an inquiry of great importance to the public 

 generally, would you favour the committee with your views 

 upon it ? I will. 



Monday, '2\st August, 1865. 



PRESENT : 



Mr. VIGNE (Chairman), 



Mr. Wicht, 

 Mr. Busk, 



Mr. Cock, 

 Mr. Pote. 



Mr. van Breda, 



Dr. Brown further examined. 



56. Mr. Pote.] You promised, Doctor, at our last meeting, Aug 2 i, 

 to lay before the committee your views on the diseases in 

 cereals? I have prepared a report on the rust in wheat, and 



the rust in oats. I am prepared either to read it or present 

 it as an annexure to my annual report. 



57. Would you briefly state the purport of it ? It shows 

 that what is termed " rust " in plants, as is generally under- 

 stood, is the effect of a fungoid growth, i.e. the growth of a small 

 fungus, the spores or seeds of which are infinitesimally small. 

 These float about, often filling the atmosphere, and wherever 

 they fall on prepared soil they germinate and grow. I have 

 reason to believe that the disease may have been introduced 

 into this Colony in the seed. The practical suggestions I am 

 prepared to give are substantially those given in a letter 

 annexed to the report of the Colonial Botanist for 1863, the 

 sum of which is, " It seems to follow that if the ripening of 

 the grain can be made to take place either at an earlier or a 

 later period than the period at which warm foggy weather 

 occurs, the evil will be diminished." 



58. Mr. Cock.] Then I suppose dry, hilly situations will 

 be preferable, not being exposed to fog and moisture ? 

 Generally. 



