460 



FARMERS REG1STE R. 



[No.B 



production, the offspring of' corruption, than dung. 

 This may be regarded at least, as a proximate, or 

 predisposing cause. It' the seeds of the fungi 

 float in the atmosphere, they more easily find a 

 nidus, on too succulent and lusty growing plants, 

 the substance of which is in a tender state, and the 

 pores more dilated, than in the hard straw pro- 

 duced by a compact soil.* 



A too frequent repetition of crops of wheat, 

 more especially when accompanied by great quan- 

 tities of manure, to force a crop, or raised on soils 

 unsuitable to the growth of that crop, will often 

 have the same effect. The rust was but little 

 known in the western, or the northern parts of 

 England, or the southern counties of Scotland, 

 until of late years, when every exertion has been 

 made, to increase the quantity of that grain. Even 

 clay lands, so congenial to wheat, have been in- 

 jured by such severe cropping; but on weaker 

 soils, as sandy and calcareous loams, the plant 

 has suffered, in respect both of quantity and qual- 

 ity. 



It is well known, that loose and open soils such 

 as turnip lands in general, are the most apt to be. 

 rusted; and the reason is, that the roots in them, 

 are the largest and longest, and generally, in search 

 of moisture, run the deepest into the soil. The stems 

 are thence luxuriant, large and porous. The roots 

 being long and straggling, often get into a nox- 

 ious stratum below, or into one not productive of 

 nourishment. When that is the case, the plant, 

 formerly luxuriant, meets with a sudden check, 

 (for it is only from the extreme points of the roots, 

 that the plant derives its nourishment by absorp- 

 tion;) and this sudden check predisposes it to dis- 

 ease. If then the month of July is accompanied 

 by warmth and moisture, or even the beginning 

 of August, the plants of wheat, in their weaken- 

 ed state, will be attacked by those fungi, to the 

 propagation of which, that description of weather 

 is so favorable, more especially in places where a 

 free circulation of air is wanting. 



In proof ol the doctrines, it may be observed, 

 that in loose and open soils, treading the land tho- 

 roughly, after it is sown, is an effectual preventive 

 of the mildew; the roots being thus hindered from 

 becoming loose and straggling, or getting into 



Eoor or noxious strata, whence no nourishment can 

 e derived. 



3. Remedies against rust. — Among the reme- 

 dies likely to diminish the effects of this fatal 

 malady, the following have been particularly re- 

 commended: 1. Cultivating hardy sorts of wheat; 

 2. Early sowing; 3. Raising early varieties; 4. 

 Thick sowing; 5. Changes of seed; 6. Consolidat- 

 ing the soil after sowing; 7. Using saline ma- 

 nures; 8. Improving the course of crops; 9. Ex- 

 tirpating all plants that are receptacles of rust; 

 and, 10. Protecting the ears and roots of wheat, 

 by rye, tares, and other crops. 



1. In a plant of which there are such a num- 

 ber of varieties, as in the case of wheat, it is evi- 



* It is remarked by Mr. Holdich, that the disease is 

 generally in proportion to the broadness of the leaf; 

 that it first takes place upon the upper leaf or sheath, 

 out of which the ear issues. When this is narrow, 

 small, and early withered, there is little danger from 

 rust. Those broad leaves ought, if possible, to be got 

 rid of, which perhaps may be effected, when the crops 

 are drilled. 



dent, that there may be some, distinguished by 

 peculiar properties, and consequently less liable to 

 disease.* It is said that, the red wheats! are 

 hardier than the white, and that the thin, or 

 smooth-challed, are less apt to be rusted, than 

 the thick-chaffed sorts. A variety of red wheat, 

 called creeping-viheat, is much cultivated, on that 

 account, in Yorkshire, and on the borders of Eng- 

 land and Scotland;! and in Worcestershire, 'the 

 farmers are partial, on account of the hardiness, to 

 a species of cone wheat, originally from Cour- 

 land, which is not so apt to be injured in bad 

 weather. 



2. Sowing wheat early, is a preventive ihat has 

 been long recommended, with a view of having 

 the ear lilied, before the season is likely to be 

 injurious. § In confirmation of that doctrine, it is 

 remarked, that in the county of Somerset, the 

 crops were formerly reaped much earlier than at 

 present, the wheat harvest being generally over 

 in the month of July,) and that the rust or mil- 

 dew ions then unknown.^ A farmer in Essex, 

 who was accustomed to sow his wheat after beans, 

 had his crops constantly rusted, but was no longer 

 troubled with that disease, ivhen he sowed early 

 either on clover leys or after a fallow. In -Bedford- 

 shire, it is remarked that wheat which mays, or 

 turns yellow in that month, (which is in general, 

 the consequence of being sown early,) never mil- 

 dews. || It is no advantage, however, to have the 

 wheat too forward in spring, andthe sowiny should 

 not, on that account, be commenced earlier than 

 the beginning of September, even on fallows. A 

 distinction ought likewise to be made, between 

 cold, wet and heavy soils, and the light, dry and 

 porous ones. It is well known that the latter, 

 though even a month posterior, will be as soon, if 

 not earlier, ready for the sickle. 



3. As sowing early is attended with some dis- 

 advantages, (the nourishment in the soil being ex- 

 hausted by the stalk, before the formation of the 

 seed commences, the plants becoming winter 

 proud, as it is called, or too forward for the season, 

 and the crop being more apt to be injured by sprinc 



* Spring wheat is said to be not so liable to be rust- 

 ed as other wheat, in Dorsetshire, (Report p. 213,) and 

 in South Wales, (Report, vol. i. p. 399,) but equally 

 so in Derbyshire, (Report, vol. ii. p. 119,) and in 

 other districts. 



t Near Exeter, they have lately got a red foreign 

 wheat, which, it is said, is not liable to be rusted. 



| General Report of Scotland, vol. i. p. 447. 



§ Worlidge's Systema Agriculture, vol. i. folio, p. 

 210. Printed an. 16S1. On the advantage of early 

 sowing, see Oxfordshire Report p. 151, 152; North- 

 amptonshire Report, p. Sfi; Berks Report, p. 200; Dor- 

 set Report, p. 209, 210, &c. By early sowing, the au- 

 tumnal rains may be avoided, which put the plant in a 

 succulent or plethoric state, and consequently render it 

 liable to infection. In dry weather, the straw is of a 

 firmer texture, and affords no admission to the seeds of 

 the fungus, that may be slightly attached to them, if 

 the disease be thus propagated. Bedfordshire Report, p. 

 333 That, however, is much doubted. 



11 Communications to the Board of Agriculture, vol. 

 v. p. 202. 



Bedfordshire Report, p. S77. 



