356 Insect, Fungus and other Pests. [sept., 



prevalent in wet seasons, and this has been observed elsewhere. 

 Mr. Carruthers, for example, in his 1872 report for the Royal 

 Agricultural Society remarked that " its appearance has always 

 been associated with long-continued rains. The appearance of 

 the disease in England during the past year (1871) was no 

 doubt due to the very damp early summer." The disease did 

 some damage to wheat in Germany in 1894, while it is recorded 

 as occurring in France. 



The measures which have been employed for checking the 

 disease have not been entirely successful. In Europe manuring 

 the soil and subsequent rolling have proved beneficial. In 

 New South Wales more effective results are obtained by 

 the use of a fungicide, such as sulphate of iron, applied at the 

 rate of 70 lb. per acre in spring. 



A long rotation is of the utmost importance with diseases of 

 this kind ; by depriving the fungus of the wheat plant, its 

 normal food, it should be possible to starve it out of the soil. 

 Oats are said to be immune to " Foot Rot." 



Diseased Oats. — A correspondent sent from Enfield, co. 

 Meath, specimens of diseased oats, which were said (1) to turn 

 brown in the leaf ; (2) to cease growing, the grain becoming 

 very weak and almost dead. These oats were found to be 

 attacked by the fungus Helminthosporium teres, Erikss. As 

 spraying is impracticable in the case of cereals, preventive 

 measures should be adopted. The spores will perish if cereals 

 are kept off the land for three years, unless supported by wild 

 grasses on banks, hedges, &c, which should, therefore, be kept 

 closely trimmed. It would not be advisable to use the grain 

 grown in an infected field for seed. If, however, for any reason 

 it is desired to use such grain for seed, it should be sprinkled 

 with a 1 per cent, solution of formalin in water, and thoroughly 

 mixed so that all the grain comes in contact with the solution. 

 Nitrate of potash at the rate of 2 cwt. per acre might be used 

 if signs of the disease appear in the crop. 



White Rust " on Salsify. — Specimens of salsify were 

 received attacked by " White Rust," Cystopus tragopogonis, 

 Schrot, a near relation to the white rust (C. candidus) on 

 crucifers. The fungus grows on various weeds belonging to 

 the Composites, more especially on goatsbeard, and may pass 

 from some such weed to the cultivated crop. An account 



