256 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ March 27, 1884. 
n August, 1882, by Mr. C. B. Plowright of King’s Lynn, who is well 
known as an authority on British fungi. 
Mr. Little writes, “ Wheat mildew is caused by a parasitic fungus, 
known as Puccinia graminis, which attacks both Oats and Barley, 
as well as many of the natural Grasses of this country. This parasite 
lives within the cellular tissue of the plant, sapping its vitals, and 
converting to its own use the sap which should nourish and mature 
the grain. The presence of this fungus in the infested host plant 
is evidenced only by its fruit or reproductive organs, which burst 
through the cuticle and appear in red and black patches, disposed in 
rather irregular lines on the leaves, straw, or chaff.” The life history 
of this fungus is remarkable, as, stated by Plowright, “ it has no less 
than five kinds of reproductive forms . . . (Ecidium, Sperma- 
gonia, Uredo, Puccinia, and Promycelium .” 
Mr. Carruthers says, “ The injury done to the Wheat by the rust 
and mildew arises from the fungus appropriating to its own use the 
elaborated juices of the Wheat. Fungi are plants without the green 
colouring or chlorophyl which exists in other plants, and they are 
consequently unable to separate the carbon from the carbonic acid 
gas of the air—that is, to manufacture plant food from the raw 
materials on which plants live, they therefore depend on the already 
prepared food of the plants on which they are parasitic. The fungus 
in its rust stage takes possession of the growing plant, and weakens 
it so far as it appropriates the material -which was intended to build 
up the growing Wheat plant. A few bright sunny days arrest the 
progress of the fungus, and vigorous plants overcome the attack 
without any real injury. When, however, the mildew appears at a 
later stage in the life of the Wheat the conditions are entirely 
changed. The story of the fungus suggests important considerations 
to the farmer. First, it is certain that the brown spores of the mildew 
which remain attached to the straw after harvest are the means by 
which the fungus retains its vitality through the winter. Converting 
the straw into manure does not destroy the spores, but rather provides 
in the spring the conditions fitted for their germination. It may be 
recommending a serious destruction of property to suggest the burn¬ 
ing of mildewed straw, but fire is the only agent that will effectually 
destroy the spores.” 
This closing part of the quotation from Mr. Carruthers’ paper is 
a very serious matter for the consideration of practical farmers, as 
it will be seen immediately that this kind of straw will not sell in 
towns, nor is it healthy or nutritious food for stock, even if converted 
into chaff, for in that state it would be as unpalatable as whole 
fodder. It is therefore very clear that the only use which can be 
made of mildewed straw is to litter the stables and cattle boxes, 
and turn it into manure, which brings us to a point for further con¬ 
sideration, How the manure can be used without injury to succeeding 
crops. 
(To be continued.) 
WORK ON THE HOME FARM. 
Horse Labour .—Horses are now engaged in the busiest period of the 
year, and in various instances, when the first really dry weather occurs, 
it is frequently difficult even for the most experienced farmers to say 
which work should be done first. We must, therefore, now suppose 
that the planting and drilling of Beans and Peas is now over, and that 
attention must now be given to Barley seeding. One word, however, as 
to the drilling of Peas. It is a common custom to drill both early or late 
Peas at about 20 inches, so that horse-hoeing may be done between the 
lines and hand-hoeing in the lines. One of the best farmers we know 
contends, as it is his practice, that the Peas should be drilled at 12 inches 
apart between the rows and hand-hoed only, for it is contended that 
unless the land be foul with couch grass horse-hoeing is not necessary, if 
the land is in good heart, and that as soon as the Peas begin to spread, 
they reach each other and effectually overpower the annual weeds. The 
best malting samples of Barley are usually grown after early sowing, but 
the condition of the land best adapted for the crop is a thoroughly 
disintegrated soil, so complete that a quick rooting for the Barley will 
be reduced to a certainty ; but on the other hand the land should not be 
made too rich, for if the Barley goes down, lodged, or laid, it is hopeless 
to expect a malting sample. There is, however, another point worth 
attention—the distance between the rows if drilled. Now, if the land is 
rich and in high tilth the rows should be 12 inches apart instead of 
7 inches, and two bushels of Barley per acre is an abundance of seed if 
we are to expect malting Barley. There is another point of importance, 
that as the value of Barley depends upon an even sample, that it never 
ought to be sown after roots fed off by sheep, for in consequence of the 
changeable climate the land can seldom be all alike in condition, even in 
one field, owing to the tread of the sheep and their irregular lying or 
folding in variable weather. Therefore we should seed such land in such 
condition with drege, and if good Barley for malting is required let it be 
screened and separated from the Oats, and in nineteen cases out of 
twenty a good malting sample will be the result, whereas Barley grown 
by itself in a speculative crop not only from adverse circumstances as to 
weather, Sec., but also in consequence upon light soils from the frequent 
repetition of the crop. The land should now be prepared for Mangold, 
and the sooner the seed can be deposited in good-conditioned land the 
better, for the April month is the best seed-time ; nor have we ever seen 
the young plants as they appear injured by the night frosts of the May 
month which sometimes occur. The seeding for Carrots is a different 
matter, for if the land is continued under preparation, or even drilled 
with Carrot seed after a crop of Trifolium, &c., in the second or third 
week in May, it will save one hoeing, and go far to insure a better plant 
of Carrots ; and as a matter of economy generally we have found it not 
only a desirable plan, but it insures a better plant as a rule. Cabbages 
for cattle should now be drilled on the stetch with yard dung or other¬ 
wise Peruvian guano, I cwt. per acre, sown broadcast, and stetched or 
ploughed into the stetches, and these can be drilled with seeds of 
Champion Cabbage with the hand-garden drill or the Scotch stetch drill. 
When the plants are a good size for hoeing leave the strongest, and the 
other plants will do for planting with the spade on land after green or 
catch crops as fast as the land is ploughed. 
Potatoes for the main crop should now be set. We are planting the 
Magnum Bonum variety, for they are not only good for sale to the con¬ 
sumers but good croppers, and good keepers into the following spring, and 
are at the same time seldom attacked with the disease. We, however, are 
planting small tubers ; hut if they are to be cut into sets for planting they 
should be cut between the buds at one end down the tuber lengthways, 
and should furnish each tuber only two sets, as they have but few 
buds or eyes, and these are for the most generally at the small end 
of the tuber. 
Hand Laboxir .—The men, and women too, will now he busy, and 
should be employed, the latter for the purpose of being in reserve for 
weeding in the grass and corn as soon as ready. The Clovers are this 
year forward, and on all forward soils weeding by hand labour may now be 
done with advantage, for weeds such as Docks and Thistles may now be 
plainly seen. Planting Potatoes will be going on as work for women; 
men being employed either in spreading dung, which, being done at 
planting time, the women may rake it into every third furrow simulta¬ 
neously with the ploughing; if artificial means are used they should be 
mixed with damp ashes and strewed into the furrow and covered in with 
the sets. 
Live Stocli .—Dairy cattle are now mos'ly in the fields and grass lands, 
the latter being very early and fit for feeding this year owing to the mild 
winter and spring hitherto. We prefer, however, generally to reserve for 
the cows as they calve the best and forwardest grass. On the hill farms 
the root crops are holding out well; there is also generally a store of 
Mangold roots for feeding later on with Clovers and Sainfoin, and these 
will be found almost invaluable in the event of a dry summer, for it will 
keep the lambs in good and growing condition. For the present, however, 
we have the water meadows for use, which never were better. The same may 
be said of the catch crops, such as Rye or Rye and Vetches, also Trifolium 
and Italian Rye Grass, for these latter-named Grasses are invaluable upon 
bill farms, especially on some which are out of reach of water meadows. 
The quantity of roots in store are a safe food for fatting cattle in the 
boxes and stalls, and may hold them on until the end of June and July, 
when moderately sized bullocks, not too fat, are sure to sell well, notwith¬ 
standing our foreign importations, because this in dead meat is not so 
available in the heat of summer, although it may have kept well by refri¬ 
gerating during the transit to this country. Fatting sheep should now be 
sold, because they will otherwise get too fat and too heavy for the 
butchers in hot weather. It is doubtful also whether they will pay for 
shearing yet, for the wool trade is not very encouraging. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Cows (F. C .).—There is no general complaining that cows do not prove 
in calf this year, except in some cases when they have suffered from foot- 
and-mouth disease it is the case. As regards your cows you do not say 
when they had this disease, and therefore we cannot say they are likely to be 
barren in consequence. We should think it more likely to be from inatten¬ 
tion in management; but we advise you to consult a veterinary surgeon, 
who would inquire as to all the circumstances of the case and advise you 
accordingly. _ 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
Camden Square, London. 
Lat. 51° 32' 40" N.; Long. 0° 8' 0" W.; Altitude, 111 feet. 
DATE. 
9 A.M. 
IN THE DAY. 
.2 
S 
« 
1884. 
March. 
Barome¬ 
ter at 32« 
and Sea 
Level 
Hygrome¬ 
ter. 
Direction 
of Wind. 
1 
Temp, of 
Soil at 
1 foot. 
Shade Tem¬ 
perature. 
Radiation 
Temperature. 
Dry. 
Wet. 
Max. 
Min. 
In 
sun. 
On 
grass. 
Inches. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
In* 
Sunday . 
1(5 
30.076 
51.8 
48.9 
N.E. 
45.0 
68.0 
43.2 
96.8 
36.0 
— 
Monday. 
17 
30.071 
47.0 
45.5 
N.E. 
44.7 
67.4 
3S.0 
97.5 
33.4 
— 
Tuesday. 
18 
30.082 
54.3 
51.9 
N.E. 
45.(5 
59.2 
43.6 
88.6 
41.6 
— 
Wednesday .. 
19 
30.147 
46.3 
45.5 
S.W. 
4(5.2 
54.2 
43.4 
98.4 
38.9 
— 
Thursday ... 
20 
20.066 
46.0 
42.1 
N.W. 
46.3 
53.4 
40.7 
93.6 
36.0 
0.029 
Friday. 
21 
29.9S0 
43.4 
41.0 
N. 
45.0 
54.4 
37.5 
97.6 
33.4 
— 
Saturday ... 
22 
30.099 
41.7 
39.8 
N. 
44.2 
53.6 
32.0 
93.3 
28.2 
— 
30.000 
47.2 
45.0 
45.3 
58.6 
39.8. 
95.1 
35.4 
0.029 
REMARKS 
16th.—Very fine all day, and quite summerlike. 
17th.—Fog early, then very fine and warm. 
18th.—Fine throughout, but cooler. 
19th.—Dull all day, and cooler. 
20th.—Fine bright day; slight shower about 3.30 r.M., and a little rain in night. 
21st.—Cloudy early, then brighter, but spots of rain occasionally. • . 
22nd.—Cold in morning; a fine day, but overcast occasionally. 
A fine week with considerable range of temperature, the early part being as warm as 
the middle of May, and the last day with a frost.—Cr. J. Symons. 
