I would suggest that you write to Mr. W. Wilkes, Secretary of the 
Royal Horticultural Society, and find out what the Society is doing 
or proposing to do, and get from him an opinion of the Council on 
the best method of accomplishing your purpose. 
Faithfully yours, 
(Signed) C. S. Sargent. 
Common Barberry 
vs. 
Wheat Rust 
This year the farmers of northern Illinois are planting a consider- 
able amount of spring wheat in response to the call of our government 
for increased wheat production in this state. To insure a successful 
crop it is vitally necessary that the black stem rust of wheat be com- 
batted in every possible way. It so happens that the Common or 
Tall Barberry (Berberis vulgaris) and its varieties, including the 
Purple-leaved Barberry, harbors the spring stage of this fungus, which 
produces millions of tiny spores which are carried great distances by 
the wind to the growing wheat, upon which they produce the de- 
structive black stem rust. 
This rust caused $205,000,000 damage to the wheat crop in the 
United States in 1916. If conditions are favorable this year it may do 
more — perhaps less. Against this enormous sum the value of all the 
Common Barberry in the country is insignificant. Dig it up and 
burn it if you have any on your premises! 
The Common Barberry has been outlawed in Denmark for years. 
North Dakota ordered it to be removed throughout the state by 
July I, 1917. The Minnesota State Council of Public Safety has 
ordered it out of Minnesota. Wisconsin has sent out a powerful appeal 
to the people of the state to destroy all Common Barberry. 
The relation between Common Barberry and wheat rust has been 
known for over 50 years. We have simply ignored it. Before the 
present great war wheat was sufficiently plentiful in America and the 
world to cause an attitude of indifference to the common enemies of 
growing wheat. But this is changed. We must now strive to produce 
every bushel of wheat that we can. 
The Common Barberry in the city must be removed just as 
drastically as in the country. In Minneapolis bushes of this shrub 
planted along the boulevards of the city were found to be heavily 
infested with the spring stage of the rust. There is no definite limit to 
the distance the spores may be carried. 
