MONTANA STATE BOARD OF HORTICULTURE 75 



Nor was the discovery limited to these scientific observations, for it 

 was also noted where grain fields were separated by barberry hedges 

 the rust was mnch worse near the hedges and less severe farther out 

 in the fields. This was many years ago, however, when there was 

 no organization of farmers, no co-operation, and much tendency to 

 scoff at scientific discoveries. For a period of more than fifty years 

 there was much objection to barberry bushes by many farmers' who 

 could see with their own eyes the damage done, but while some bushes 

 were removed many others remained and the rust continud to take 

 its toll. 



A Great Lesson 



The progessive little country of Denmark has taught the rest 

 of the world many useful lessons; and it was this country that dem- 

 onstrated the practical usefulness of the scientific discoveries con- 

 cerning wheat rust. In 1903 Denmark passed a law making it a 

 misdemeanor punishable by fine to have barberry bushes growing 

 upon one's property. There was but little opposition to the law, 

 though a iew objected and delayed as long as possible in removing 

 their bushes. For the most part the law met popular favor. Prior 

 to 1903 wheat rust had been responsible for terrible lasses in the grain 

 fields, but since that date, more than fifteen years ago, there has 

 not been a serious epidemic of the disease in that country. 



The great world war, bringing many people to their senses, and 

 stimulating patriotism and friendly co-operation in America, has 

 furnished the opportunity, long sought, to strike a blow at wheat rust, 

 through barberry eradication. The plant pathologists of the United 

 States Department of Agriculture and the State Experiment Stations 

 got together to insist that wheat rust should not destroy wheat while 

 the people were sacrificing to save it. 



The Barberry Eradication District 



It had already been shown that in the southern half of the United 

 States the rust could get along without the barberry which apparently 

 was not the case in the northern states. There was some uncertainty 

 about the Pacific coast states. Being conservative and keeping on 

 sure ground these plant pathologists marked out a district extending 

 from Michigan west to Montana and south to Nebraska inclusive, 

 from which barberries should be eradicated. Just outside this boun- 



