Page:Husbandman and Housewife 1820.djvu/118

 Among the causes of rust, besides those above mentioned may be reckoned, 1. Having the land in too rich a state for wheat crops. 2. Where too frequent a repetition of wheat crops takes place.

Remedies against Rust.

1. Cultivating hardy sorts of wheat; 2. Early sowing; 3. Raising early varieties; 4. Thick sowing; 5. Changes of seed; 6. Consolidating the soil after sowing; 7. Using saline manures; 8. Improving the course of crops; 9. Extirpating all plants that are receptacles of rust; and 10. Protecting the ears and roots of wheat by rye, tares and other crops. The above remedies are enlarged upon by Sir John Sinclair, in "The Code of Agriculture," but his observations are too voluminous to quote in this place. His 10th remedy, however, is as follows:

"A CURIOUS and most important circumstance, connected with the rust in wheat remains to be stated. In the northern counties of England, where it is the practice to sow what they call meslin, (blend corn) or a mixture of rye and wheat, it has been there remarked, that wheat, thus raised is rarely infected by the rust. It is singular that the same circumstance has been observed in Italy. In an account drawn up by Professor Symonds, on the climate of that country, it is recorded as a known but extraordinary fact, "that wheat, mixed with rye or tares, escapes unhurt." It would appear from tares being so useful that the seed of the fungus must be taken up by the root, and that if the root be protected it is sufficient. This seems to be countenanced by other circumstances, as that by treading the ground, and thick sowing of crops of wheat, the crop is less liable to be affected by this disease; the access of the seeds of the fungi to the root being rendered more difficult. Mr. Knight is decidedly of opinion that the disease is taken up by the root, and indeed if it