lxxxvi 



TIOTJLL HORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 



in the same field, the plants have been as free from injury by 

 parasitic growth as on any other part of the same field, or, indeed, 

 of the whole farm. 



Whilst it may be assumed that, under favourable atmospheric 

 conditions, red rust may prevail at once on the most fertile and 

 on the most impoverished soil, there is abundant evidence that 

 different descriptions of wheat may be affected in very different 

 degrees. Great attention should therefore be devoted to the 

 selection and acclimatization of those descriptions which expe- 

 rience has shown to resist the most effectually the development 

 and extension of this destructive parasitic growth. In England 

 it is well known to be necessary to exercise much caution in 

 sowing wheat which has been grown in a warmer climate. Many 

 years ago a field on this farm was sown with seed grown in the 

 Island of Jersey, by Colonel Le Couteur, who was at that time 

 elebrated for his fine qualities of wheat. The plant grew beauti- 

 fully up to the time of blooming ; but subsequently the crop was 

 almost completely destroyed by red rust, whilst the descriptions 

 of wheat usually grown on the farm suffered no injury. 



It is probable that in the selection of seed-wheat for Aus- 

 tralia, it would be desirable to look to the produce of countries 

 where the average temperature of the growing and ripening 

 period is as high or even higher than in Australia, and the rain- 

 fall at the same time considerable. Probably some parts of the 

 United States, where wheat grows side by side with more tro- 

 pical products, might furnish a seed easy of acclimatization, and 

 well calculated to withstand parasitic growth. Experience alone, 

 however, can show whether seed so selected, or that from more 

 temperate climates, will yield a plant the most capable of resist- 

 ing the ravages of red rust under the particular climatic con- 

 ditions of the Colony. 



" Tale-all." 



The evidence taken and the Reports of the Commissioners 

 show that the affection to which this expressive name is applied 

 has not been so carefully studied, nor is so well understood, as 

 the red rust. The evidence given respecting it is indeed very 

 conflicting. It will be seen, by reference to the letter of the 

 Bev. M. J. Berkeley, already referred to, that, so far as he is 

 enabled to judge from the examination of the very imperfect spe- 

 cimens which were supplied to him, he comes to the conclusion 



