| lJunz, 1900.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 451 
4 
of about a couple of inches should then be spread over the whole, and the 
Seeds Prony sown thereon. They must be well raked in to conserve them 
tom birds, from which pests they may also require to be further protected. 
Y experiences go no further than to enable me to say very fine examples of 
| lng radishes are quickly produced in this way, and the variety was Wood’s 
arly Frame. Knowing, however, how well the French Breakfast variety 
Stows, and how quickly it bulbs, there can be no doubt it would succeed under 
@ same treatment, especially as it has the merit of bulbing well when grown 
thickly together. Even country growers, somewhat far removed from town 
| Markets, may make a profit from such a crop. Such crops may be readily sold 
In local villages. Such early produce would, however, be acceptable in the best 
Markets, especially as the sample is invariably of good form and size and tender. 
THE PROPAGATION OF RUST IN CEREALS, 
(Translated from the French by A. J. Boyn.) 
 Rusr in cereals has been observed in all ages. It was in the year 1767 that 
ontana, an Italian botanist, discovered the fungus which was the cause of the 
lsease, a fungus named later on Puccinia graminis by Person. The curious 
lology of this fungus was elucidated by the German botanist, de Bary, who 
Proved by experiment that the different forms of one and the same fungus, 
| Corresponding to the different phases of its evolution, are developed, some 
Aeidium) on the bramble, others (Uredo, Puccinia) on cereals. 
However that may be, the evil did not cease to spread in the fields. 
England lost 15,000,000 in 1881, Austria 24,000,000 in 1886, Australia 
| 50,000,000* in 1890, by rust in cereals. 
In 1890 a series of scientific observations was organised in Australia; in 
le same year the Swedish Government entrusted the botanist Jakob Hrikssont 
With continued research on the rust in cereals, furnishing for the purpose a 
| edit of about 14,000 frances. 
_ Mr. J. Eriksson has just published in the Revue Générale des Sciences a 
Tesumé of his investigations since 1890. 
There are as many as twelve different species of rust, besides which there 
tust be reckoned a certain number of biological origin. Some of these forms 
do not present either to the naked eye or to the microscope any difference, but 
| they differ materially from a practical point of view. In fact, each form of an 
‘Adentical species is invariably attached, “ specialised,” to the class of cereal which 
ttattacks, and cannot be inoculated (communicated) to any but this particular 
Cereal. It is thus that rye straw, attacked by the brown rust, can communicate 
the disease to rye, but not to wheat ; that oat straw, attacked by the black rust, 
Can communicate the disease to oats, but neither to rye, barley or wheat, and 
| this even after having passed through the form eidium on the bramble. 
Humidity and heat suffice for the germination of certain spores (xcidiospores, 
tredospores); for the germination of certain others (teleutospores) a third condition 
's required—a certain period of repose. These last, which require a whole 
| Winter for the awakening of their germinating powers, can only germinate in 
e spring following their formation, when they have been exposed to the air 
nd under the conditions natural to the locality which are experienced in winter 
Cold, snow, and:rain). 
From this it results that rusted straw placed in the barns, or in the centre 
Of stacks, does not constitute an element of danger for propagating the disease. 
he germinative power of the winter spores is, besides, of short duration; at 
€ commencement of October this germinative power no longer exists; the 
Spores themselves are dead. It, therefore, naturally follows that the straw of 
y 
@ preceding year is not to be feared as a factor in propagating the disease. 
* The Beutes doubtless refer to bushels. —A.J.B. 
+J. Eriksson, Professor at the Experiment Station of Albans, near Stockholm.—From Le 
| p rogres Agricole ct Viticole. 
