RUST-PROOF WHEATS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2115, 23 October 1890, Page 1

RUST-PROOF WHEATS.

An agricultural correspondent writes to a contemporary Rust was the subject of some remarks” in my last letter, and the topic again crops up in connection with some, remarkable differences in the susceptibility of different-varieties of wheat to rust noticed in a visit to Messrs Carter’s (of London) Nurseries/ at Forest Hill, the other da’yl They have, as usual, their crossbred wheats growing side by side, and with them a great number of varieties from nearly every country in the world where wheat is grown. There is only one row- of each kind in a place, though; comparisons are in some cases made between one variety and several other sorts, by growing them side ’by side, All sown the same day and treated precisely alike, yet the visitor finds one row badly rusted, and the next with no rust on it at all, or only a little. This is remarkable, because the two varieties touch each other as they wave in the wind, and, indeed, often have to be parted by the hand to separate them. The rust is that of' the spring fungus, Puccivica rubigo vera, and not that of the later sort which develops into our common mildew (Puccivica grassims).' The former seldom-does much harm in this country, where itis chiefly confined to the flag. Still ifc cannot fail to sap the vitality of the . plant to a considerable extent, and perhaps the only reason why it is comparatively harmless here is that we grow a great bulk of straw, and often a crop will bear a little lightening. " I noticed that Australian and New Zealand wheats, as a rule,'were badly affected/ as were all other sorts froim' countries where the summer temperature is high. One New Zealand sprt, however, labelled “ New Zealand Hard ” had very little rust upon it. The only varieties that seemed to be quite free from rust were two of Messrs Carter’s new crossbred wheats and two foreign sorts. These were the cress between April and Q-olden Grain, the cross between April and Talavera, Ble Bordien, and an unnamed sample from Italy. In addition, three selections from Messrs Carter’s cross between Talavera and Fillmeasure had in them, while on two ether selections from the same cross there was hardly a trace,. Similarly, four selections from the cross Talavera and . Birdproof were free from rust, while two other selections were nearly free. Perhaps I should explain that the several selections are those of the offspring ojE the crosses which, show variations. Several selections) of some crosses are grown, to see which is the best. One of the favorite Canadian varieties, Red Fyfe, bad scarcely any rust oh it, and the same may .be said ofthe American Milwaukee, Oregon, and the good old ; Eivetta, ;-1 he cross between April .and Golden Grain (both bearded, the latter being an American wheat) is probably the earliest spring wheat in cultivation. It is greatly superior in size of ear and general robustness to April wheat, hitherto the best sort to sow late in the spring, or, indeed, afteri February. The progeny of 'April , and Talavera is nearly as early. It is remarkableithat all. the several crosses which have Talavera for one parent are free or nearly free from rust.