16 



harvested in a dryer condition than in 1879, it weighs rather 

 more; 1880 was nearly as bad as 1879. Every cold wet 

 summer produces mildewed wheat. In fact, it is present 

 and does damage every year, though, as a satisfactory 

 yield is often obtained in spite of it, its evil effect is not 

 noted. Between this and Luton, towards the left to Big- 

 gleswade, most of the plaiting straw used in the English 

 straw plait manufacture is grown, and doubtless those who 

 examined the straws carefully would say they never knew 

 a season when all the straws were clean. There have been none 

 of good quality for plaiting since 1887. The loss to the 

 country must amount to an average of millions of pounds per 

 annum. The disease is most prevalent in sunless years. Also 

 in years like the present, when there are severe frosts in June. 

 Stout straw wheats, such as Rivett's, generally suffer less than 

 that of weaker varieties. Before 1887 Rivett and Hardcastle 

 formed a mixture for which this parish was celebrated, but 

 during the cold seasons after tnat period they could not be grown 

 profitably ; no sorts are profitable now. Square-head, Rivetts, 

 and others had to be grown in their places. Latterly we have 

 been able to grow the two former varieties with fair success, 

 but this year all are a failure. No wheat in this parish has 

 fetched 305. per quarter (504 Ibs.) this season. It would be 

 most serviceable if it could be proved that the wheat mildew 

 can only originate after it has passed through the barberry. As 

 far as scientists have gone the point seems to be, can the 

 uredo spores exist through the winter ? If they cannot, the 

 question lies in a nutshell." 



.Other Particulars on the Subject. 



The answers under this head are somewhat diversified, and 

 give a good deal of general information of a useful character. 

 For instance, Mr. Ellis, of West Barsham, replies that top- 

 dressing a thin plant with nitrogenous manure nearly always 

 intensifies, if it does not induce, the blight ; and, again, a thin 

 plant is always more liable to blight than a full plant. Top- 

 dressing in any case is, in his opinion, dangerous for wheat on 

 starved land. 



Mr. Idiens believes that rust and mildew are very fre- 

 quently brought on through top-dressings of nitrate of soda 

 and sulphate of ammonia on thin plants, and very rarely so if 

 the plant be a thick one. 



The opinion of Mr. Marsden, of Morley, Yorkshire, is, " that 

 cold, wet weather in summer, and the absence of sunshine when 

 the wheat is in bloom, is the chief cause of mildew, especially 

 when the straw becomes lodged on the ground." 



Another statement as to a thin plant of wheat being more often 

 affected than a good,, full plant is made by Mr. Selman, of 

 Chippenham. " In a field," he writes, " of eleven acres, one- 

 half of which was a good plant and free from mildew, the other 

 half was this year affected badly, and on this part, although 



