56 



Report on Rust and Mildew. 



Vol. VII. 



lier sowing-, and doubling the quantity of 

 seed sown. 



First Means — The means of prevention ; 

 first a good dry, loamy soil, well prepared 

 by cultivation, not too recently manured, 

 that by cultivation there may be a good as- 

 similation of manure to soil, the more com- 

 plete the better. Cover the seed about two 

 inches deep, either with drill or plow, that 

 it may have a good hold of the soil, and not 

 be thrown out by winter frosts. 



Second Means — Quantity of seed sown 

 must depend on the judgment of the farmer. 

 The strength of the soil, the size of the 

 grains, &c, must be taken into considera- 

 tion. The grains of some wheat are almost 

 as long again as some others, and some kinds 

 tiller more than others; at any rate let the 

 ground be fully occupied, that no weeds or 

 trash occupy the ground and fill the void 

 spaces between the wheat, or thin places, 

 which will be full of leaves and sap, and of 

 course, rust. Sucli thin places, by unequal 

 sowing, were observable in some fields this 

 year, by their dingy or rusty appearance ; 

 whereas, the rest of the land sown was 

 bright and good. 



Time of Sowing- — As early sown wheat 

 produces the strongest straw and fewest 

 leaves, and not so liable to be laid with wet, 

 nor so apt to be thrown out of the o-round 

 by winter frosts, these reasons recommend 

 it as a preventive to rust. 



At what particular time wheat ought to 

 he sown, to escape both fly and rust, is not 

 easy to settle, but should the fly cease its 

 depredations, early in September, say from 

 the 18th to the 20th, would lie advisable, for 

 the various reasons assigned above. The 

 late sown wheat sometimes succeeds under 

 particular cultivation and soil ; still the 

 chances against it are as ten to one. 



Kind of Wheat — In a former communi- 

 cation your committee recommended the 

 Mediterranean wheat as most safe. Hith- 

 erto the fly has not touched it. It has the 

 same character at the south, as we see by 

 the Farmers' Register, — being untouched 

 there This is strongly in its favour. It is 

 also less liable to rust than any kind we are 

 acquainted with. But other kinds may offer, 

 and upon trial be found preferable to the 

 Mediterranean. The Goldenrock now upon 

 trial may offer some advantages. It, has a 

 Btrong, short straw, not so liable to get down 

 by wet as some other kinds, and said to be 

 of excellent quality for flouring. 



Means of Improvement — We see abroad 

 in the land and around us, among the farm- 

 ers, a more certain means of improvement 

 than any thing your committee can offer. 

 A spirit of inquiry ; a wakeful ambition to 



meet the difficulties of their profession; a 

 desire to obtain the best seeds, to produce 

 the best quality and greatest quantity of 

 their various products; this my friends, is 

 the surest foundation of all permanent im- 

 provement. These hitherto dormant facul- 

 ties, if kept aroused and active, will produce 

 results in ten years from this time, that will 

 surprise us all, for we are well persuaded 

 that New Jersey is capable of producing 

 four-fold what the land now produces. 



Correct Sentiments. — On the intelli- 

 gence, order and virtue of society — on its 

 industrious habits — enterprise and skill — 

 clearness of vision, and energy of purpose, 

 every one knows, the prosperity of society 

 depends. Mere capital, without labour and 

 science to employ it wisely, or mere physical 

 strength without knowledge to direct it, is 

 useless. Some of the most productive re- 

 gions of the earth, are inhabited by beggars, 

 the miserable specimens of humanity, who 

 are such mainly, because of their ignorance ; 

 whilst wealth is obtained out of the granite 

 hills of New England, and luxury rejoices in 

 the most inclement climates, because living 

 on those hills and under those climates are 

 races of intelligent men. Never, or almost 

 never, then, is there wisdom in practicing 

 economy with reference to the institutions 

 which preserve order, increase knowledge, 

 and promote virtue. These are the fortresses, 

 which in times of danger, ought to be well 

 garrisoned and well stocked with provisions. 

 No matter how much useless display — how 

 much mere luxury, is given up by individuals 

 or communities, but touch not things neces- 

 sary to the growth of the mind and heart 

 of the people. Take down the streamers, 

 and furl the spars, and throw overboard the 

 cargoes of silks and satins — to enable the 

 ship to ride out the storm : but do not cut 

 away the masts or unship the rudder. A 

 man short of funds had better eat meat only 

 three times a week, than sell his library, or 

 take his children away from school. So a 

 community had better leave as the last thing 

 to be touched by retrenchment, the means of 

 education, and the institutions of religion. 

 For if these are crippled, bad is only worse; 

 the main springs of social life are broken. 

 Millions of dollars may be saved, in this 

 country, — by giving up what is needless, or 

 hurtful, before there will be any occasion to 

 economise in making provision for the dif- 

 fusion of knowledge, or the preservation of 

 good morals. The land can do without 

 coaches for a time, and rise again to its for- 

 mer prosperity. Pull down the schoolhouses 

 and l)urn the wheelbarrows, and this land 

 will remain desolate indeed. — Newb't Her'd. 



