No. 4. 



AND GARDENER'S JOURNAL. 



rust disappeared and the grain was plump. The re- 

 mainder of the piece was not rusted in the least. 

 There was nothing in the soil or quality of the land 

 Where these Sewarths grew, different from the rest of 

 the piece. A few rods from the dividing line be- 

 tween the spring and winter wheat, and in the latter, 

 surrounded by wheat badly rusted, was a bunch of 

 wheat, (containing some 30 or 40 stalks,) straw per- 

 fectly liriglu and grain plump. It attracted my at- 

 tention, when I discovered a pile of excrement that 

 iiad been dropped by a horse, lying at the roots of the 

 wheat. Two similar cases were noticed the year be- 

 fore. 



A few years since my father hauled a number of 

 loads of chip manure on hie wheat field, in the fall af- 

 ter sowing, leaving it in piles of two or three bushels 

 each. Through negligence it was left without 

 spreading. This field of wheat, particularly in that 

 part where the chip manure was hauled, was very 

 much injured by rust except around these piles. Hrre 

 tlie slraiD was bright and the grain liandsomc. 



I will now notice the first passage quoted above, the 

 import of which is, that the fungus is not a parasitical 

 plant; and the reason assigned for this belief is, that it 

 "has no power to attach itself to, or penetrate the 

 healtliy stalks of the wheat." It is evident in the 

 case of the spring wheat, that the sporules of the fun- 

 gus were blown by the wind, (remember it lay di- 

 rectly east of the winter wheat,) and became attached 

 to the stalks (whether /(eaW/y or not I cannot say) of 

 the wheat, and thus produced the effect described. It 

 is very proboble that the wheat must be in a certain 

 state, as regards its maturity, or rather its approach to- 

 wards maturity; and it is also probable that much 

 may depend on the state of the weather, to cause the 

 pr«^gation of the fungus. There could have been 

 no inherent principle to cause the rust in the ei^ht 

 Bwarths, that was not common or co-existent with the 

 rest ot the piece. The conclusion is, that the rust or 

 fungus spread from the winter wheat, and could its 

 propagation have taken place sufficiently fost, it would 

 have spread throughout the whole piece. But the 

 wheat was advancing toward maturity, and by the 

 time the rust had reached the distance it did, the 

 stalks hod become more hardened, and the weather 

 being unfavorable, its ravages were checked. And 

 here I can account, in a measure, for the escape of the 

 wheat from the rust, in the case of the excrement by 

 the horse, and around the chip manure. The roots of 

 the wheat were protected from the action ol the frost, 

 and the nourishment received from the manure, ad- 

 vanced it sufficiently to escape the rust. 



Before leaving this part of the subject, I will notice 

 two more facts relative to it. Wheat under sliade 

 trees almost inrariubly escapes the rust.. In this case 

 the ground is more compact, and is not acted on by 

 the frost so as to injure the wheat; and again, the 

 wheat, if much shaded, is retarded in its growth, and 

 may not be enough advanced to become inoculated 

 with the disease. I had a field of wheat the past sea- 

 son, which on one side, was shaded by a row of trees, 

 a distance of 40 rods. At the time of harvesting, this 

 shaded wheat was in the milk, and although this side 

 of the field was much injured by the rust, this strip 

 was not at all affected by it. It was left stonding, and 

 sometime alterwards I examined it; it had ripened 

 free from rust. The other tact mentioned, has un- 

 doubtedly been noticed by almost every farmer. The 

 outside land of a field of wheat, which baa been 

 packed or trodden down by turning the team while 

 ploughing and harrowing, generally escapes the rusL 

 The reason is obvious: the wheat is not so much acted 

 upon by the frost, consequently ripens sooner. 



As it regards the second passage quoted above, to 

 wit: ^'TlKfoundatien or (autt of tht nst ar fungus 



51 



li- the putrefying matter discharged from the ruptured 

 sup vessels of the plant," I sholl say but little. The 

 peculiar manner in which the spring wheat was af- 

 fected by the rust, (in the cose given above,) conclu- 

 sively settles the question. Else why was not the 

 whole piece rusted ? Or why should it have gradual- 

 ly decreased until it disappeared with the 8ih swarth 1 

 " Then, if the disease is contagious, there must be 

 a beginning?" Certainly. But where do the spo- 

 rules of all fungi originate ? "The leaf and stalk of 

 the wheat, then, must be in a certain state or situation 

 to ensure the growth of the fungus?" This is the 

 grand question. Wheat most likely to be affecte(l by 

 the rust, is thot which has been injured by the frost, 

 during the winter and spring and kept backed until 

 the weather becomes warm, when it grows too rapid- 

 ly, becomes rank and succulent; it advances in this 

 state until it has eared out and in the blossom; render- 

 ed still more tender and moist by the damp, warm 

 weather; the pores swelled to excess, occasioned by 

 the luxuriant flow of sap. It is in this situation, 

 when the seeds of the fungus come in contact with it. 

 They find the right place for their propagation — the 

 fungus soo7i'comes to maturity, the sporules fly from 

 stalk to stalk, perhaps carrried by the wind some dis- 

 tance; it spreads like wild-fire. J. B. BOWEN. 

 Aurora, 1841. 



Making Hay. 



The old proverb says, " Make hay when the sun 

 shines;" but there is something else besides sunshine 

 necessary to make good hay. The grass must be cut 

 when it is mature, or the animals that have to eat it 

 will have a hardbargoin. 



Many people, including some good farmers, judge 

 of ihe quality of common hay by its greenness and 

 brightneEs. It is o fallacious test. We have been 

 feeding out, for a week or two, (3 mo. 8,) hay that 

 was as bright as any body could desire, well made 

 without rain, and kept in the barn. It was a mi.xture 

 of red-top and Timothy, cut about mid-summer on 

 account of dealing the enclosure for the cattle; and 

 which, had it been left to stand one month longer, 

 would have made excellent hay. As it was, the cat- 

 tle ate reluctantly, and evidently with some loss of 

 flesh. It is now a pleasure to see with what eager- 

 ness they take hold of hay that was cut afterwards. 



There is a great difference between the natural 

 and ARTIFICIAL GRAS6ES. The former, including red- 

 top and Timothy, yield their nutriment principally 

 from the stem ; and like the Sugar Cane and other 

 plants of the same natural order, should be suffered 

 to stand till the sitms are moture. On the contrary, 

 the leaves of the artificial grasses, including the 

 clovers and luceru, are the most valuable parts; and 

 for this reason, these kinds should be cut when the 

 leaves are in the most perfect state. t 



For the New Genesee Farmer- 



Agricultural Experimeuts—their Dependence 

 on Climate and Soil* 



Messrs. Editors — It strikes me os very important 

 that every correspondent vi-ho stotes the result of his 

 rural experiments, should give the name of the State 

 and county in which he lives, in order that the effect 

 of soil and climate may be taken into the account. 



A farmer in Pennsylvania, without giving his lon- 

 gitude, comes out deadly hostile to Timothy hay, giv- 

 ing clover the preference. Eastern Pennsylvania is 

 too warm and dry to be a first rate hay country; hence 

 the long tap root of clover pentrating into the moist 

 subsoil, is thus enabled to yield well, when Timothy 

 is dried up. Not so in the elevated mountain region 

 of north western Pennsylvania. There clover grows 

 rank, and its stalk is ligneous and almost worthlcBB, 



while Timotby buauu t perfeet growth. 



I once, at Germantown, Pa., saw Indian corn sown 

 broadcast for fodder. The same is done in the 

 Island of Cuba and other equinoctial countries, too 

 warm and dry lor grass. 



Of late several clover machines have been ordered 

 from this place to Alabama, where it is said clover 

 thrives well, while Timothy can hardly be made to 

 live. 



There is very little doubt but that in Madison and 

 the South part of Oneida counties,in this State,a much 

 larger crop of potatoes can be raised for a succession 

 of seasons, than in what is called the Genesee coun- 

 try, from the fact that this region is higher, cooler, 

 and less subject to summer droughts. But on the oth- 

 er hand we are, with like atention, much more cer- 

 tain ol a crop of corn, and our clover bay is betier, from 

 the very fact that our climate is warmer and drier. 



SENECA. 



Peck's Pleasant (Apple.) 



Some years ago, we received grafts under this namo 

 from Rhode Island; and tliongh one branch has borne 

 several crops, we hardly became acquainted with it 

 before this winter, except to observe that it was gen- 

 erally fair and free from thatsn.ut (a Lichen ?) which 

 damages so many sorts of apples in our hunnied sea- 

 sons. 



Fruit above the middle size, heavier on one side set- 

 ting the stem rather obliquely, somewhat flattened, 

 broadeafnt the base, 3 inches in diameter, 2^ deep. — 

 Eye closed in a shallow depression. Stem three quar- 

 ters of an inch long, inserted in a wide and deep 

 cavity. Skin greenish when first gathered, changing 

 as it ripens to a delicate pole yellow, except on the 

 side next the sun, where it is tinged with pale red.— 

 Flesh yellowish white, firm though tender, sub-acid, 

 delica.e. 



A dessert apple, keeping through the winter. 3 

 mo. 10. It is now in fine condition. 



Its principal defect when it grows on crowded 

 branches in the shade, is a deficiency of flavor ; but 

 where it is of good size — has been fully exposed to the 

 sun, and acquired a fine blush, — it is a very superior 

 fruit. 



We have seen no notice of this apple except ia 

 Prince's Catalogue and in Kenrick's New American 

 Orchardist, where a meagre description occurs. It ia 

 given on the authority of Stephen H. Smiih of Rhode 

 Island : " One of the most saleable opples in market 

 — skin smooth — yellow in the shade — o blush next the 

 sun — flavor pleasant and good — an excellent dessert 

 fruit. — Nov. Feb." We abbreviate the language, not 

 having the book at hand, but endeavor to preserve the 

 substance. 



C? A few words in regard to describing fruit: In 

 theory, the calyx (or blossom) is considered the upper 

 end because it is more remote from the root, although 

 it may hang below ; and hence the Eye of an apple is 

 described os being in a depression (a sinking in) while 

 the Stem or Stalk is said to be in o cavity {a hollow 

 below.) t 



Sore Throat in Swine* 



Messrs. Editors: — Turn animals so effected, into 

 a pasture wheic there is fresh feed and ground to root. 

 It is a disease resulting generally trom confinement. 

 Pounded Chorcool mixed with food, where pasture 

 cannot be had, or room for exercise, is one of the best 

 preventivesof diseases in swine. J. M, 



Discovery of the Etl'ect of Piaster on Land* 



Professor Leibeg, of Gieseen, has discuvertd that 

 snow and rain water always contain ammonia; hence 

 its presence in the atmosphere. Platter, (sulphite of 

 lime,) forms this ammonia in the soil, and keeps it 

 there to stimulate and feed vegetation, in the same 

 manner as lime pi events the escape of the humic acid 

 and other fertilizing gassN, fioia animal and vege able 

 manurea. S£^'£CA. 



