EXTRACTS FROM PROCEEDINGS. 



lxxxv 



fiuous moisture, but, on the contrary, that it fell almost con- 

 tinuously. By way of illustration of this, it may be cited that 

 there were in one district : — 



In September twenty-six rainy days, and four fine days. 



In October twenty-three rainy days, and. eight fine days. 



The plants would therefore be constantly surrounded by a 

 moist atmosphere, which, together with the conditions and changes 

 of temperature also recorded, would supply the atmospheric con- 

 ditions peculiarly suitable for the development and extension of 

 the fungus. In fact it may^ be safely assumed that, if similar 

 conditions of temperature and moisture were again to prevail 

 in the colony, the wheat-crop would again suffer most seriously, 

 as, indeed, it would, under similar circumstances, in Great Bri- 

 tain or elsewhere. 



The evidence submitted to the Commission, conclusively shows 

 that the extensive development of red rust, with the consequent 

 injury to the wheat-crop, were not attributable to exhaustion of 

 the soil. The fungus would, in fact, be likely to increase more 

 rapidly, and to be the more destructive, the more luxuriant, and 

 therefore the taller and the more bulky, the crop, as the plants 

 would then stand thicker on the land, and in a greater degree 

 prevent the free circulation of air among the stems and leaves. 

 The extensive development of the parasite is essentially due to 

 atmospheric circumstances, and is only in a secondary degree 

 connected with the character of growth of the wheat-plant itself, 

 as affected by the condition of the soil as to exhaustion, ma- 

 nuring, &c. Indeed, in a fertile condition of the soil, which 

 would give the most luxuriant and healthy crop, provided the 

 season were favourable, the healthy growth of the plant would 

 be the most endangered under those climatic circumstances which 

 are the most favourable to the spread of red rust, and the crop 

 would therefore be the more likely to suffer injury from it when 

 once attacked. It is useless, therefore, to seek for a remedy in 

 high manuring. 



So little does the exhaustion of the soil of itself render the 

 wheat-plant more subject to injury from parasitic growth, that 

 wheat has been grown on a portion of a field on this farm, 

 at Rothamsted, for twenty-five years in succession, both corn 

 and straw being taken from the land every year, and no manure 

 of any kind returned to it ; and al though the produce has not 

 averaged one half that obtained on some of the manured portions 



