RUST EXPERIMENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1518, 28 March 1882, Page 3

RUST EXPERIMENTS.

In a paper read before the Millicent Farmers' Mutual Association by Mr M. i A. Perkins, of the Experimental Farm, Millicent, near Mount Gambier, Victoria, giving an account of various agricultural experiments in which he had been engaged, occur the following passages in reference to red rust :—: — This fearful peat first made its appearance in this colony about the year 1853 or 1854. Many will remember the year ; 1854 to their cost. Since then it has been more or less prevalent, and much valuable time and expense has been vested in experiments and researches to try aud find an antidote for red rust, but none of those tried have proved a sure remedy, although some are of great i value. First — It has been proved that soft fluffy-strawed wheats are the most susceptible to red rust, so it behoves every farmer to sow none but what will grow a strong glossy straw. Second — Manure and Pickle. — I have tried a great number of different sorts of pickle, and the best results have been obtained from salts and lime, aud the worst from bluestone. I consider that we require a stimulating pickle, of which I find lime and salt far the best. Glue and charcoal, saltpetre, sulphate of soda, and many chemical mixtures, have been tried with varying results, but none have proved of any permanent value. I have made a great many experiments, aud may mention a few that have been suggested by Mr Sabine in a paper read before a Commission appointed by the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society to inquire into the subject of red rust. Ist. New seed treated with bluestone. 2nd. Old wheat treated with salt and lime. 3rd. New wheat treated with salt and lime. 4th. Old wheat treated with bluestone. The results of these experiments have , always been in favour of salt and lime. ' The old seed is, I believe, of some value ; the plants are stronger and more vigorous and healthy, which is of great importance, and it is an acknowledged fact that a strong healthy early crop has the best chance of yielding a good harvest. When those facts are acknowledged, it behoves every farmer to sow nothing but strong, healthy wheats. Those most suitable are, as tried by me : — First, Oregon ; second, Red Tuscan ; third, White Tuscan ; fourth, Nonpareil. These are of strong growth and hardy nature. I find all those sorts of a soft, fluffy straw are most liable to rust. I have the noted Defiance and other sorts, which I hope to be able to give a good account of next season. In a subsequent issue the Lender says : — We published a few weeks ago a brief but very interesting paper upon wheat rust experiments by Mr Mr M. A. Perkins, the manager of the South Australian Experimental Farm at Millicent, near Mount Gambier. We afterwards received from a correspondent in the Jeffcott district a letter, which we also publish in the Leader, requesting further particulars regarding the pickling process referred to in the experiments, and in response to this Mr Perkins sends us the following :—": — " I believe salt and lime quite as efficient if not more so than bluestone as a preventive to smut. In the first place, salt and lime encourage the growth of the wheat plant, whereas bluestone is injurous to the growth of the plant. Your correspondent wishes to know the quantity of salt and lime used. My mode of pickling is as follows :—: — Make a pickle of salt and water or urine (I prefer that if obtainable) with salt, sufficient to float a potato. Steep the wheat for fifteen minutes, then drain off the liquour and shoot the wheat on a boarded floor ; sift sufficient quicklime over it to dry it ; shovel it over so as to mix it well together, then bag it up, and in two hours it will be ready for sowing. By adopting this plan I have seen rust in the crops, but in my experience of over thirty years I have never once seen a crop totally destroyed; whilst wheat treated with bluestone alongside of the same has been a total failure. I fully endorse your correspondent's remarks in reference to change of seed. It is a well known fact that any seed or plant, if grown for years on the same land, becomes unhealthy. I think it of great importance to select strong, healthy wheats — wheats with strong glossy straw. I have proved that soft fluffy strawed sorts will take the rust most readily, and consequently most injuriously. Since my paper was written I have harvested, besides those sorts mentioned in my paper :— Defiance, Champlain, South African, October, or twenty week's wheat, all of which I would strongly recommend to be tried. The South African is a very early wheat, with a strong solid straw ; the grain is rather flinty, but I think it will improve with our climate, as my wheat is a great improvement on the seed sown. I shall be glad to supply you with a small quantity of each for distribution to those gentlemen who would like to try them, or any that may not be obtainable in Melbourne." — The Leader.

The Wairarapa Stir has just received a never-failing cure for cancer, supplied by a well-known resident. It is very simple: — Boil three of the finest Turkey figs in half a pint of new milk. When they are tender split one and apply the inside of it as warm as it can be borne to the part affected, whether broken or not. Wash it with the milk every time the poultice is changed, which it must be at least three times a day. A quarter of a pint of the milk in which the figs have been boiled should also be drank twice in the day if the stomach will bear it. The above is guaranteed an effectual cure, it having been thoroughly tested. The Newspaper Press of Sydney. — At a complimentary banquet given on the Ist March, to Mr J, M. Lynch, of the Sydney Telegraph, on his leaving Sydney for Melbourne, where he intends for the future to reside, in responding to the toast "Our Guest," he said :— "Be had been the original projector of the Sydney Daily Telegraphy and he was in Sydney for five or six weeks endeavouring to get people to put money into the paper. Failing in this, he went back to Melbourne, and succeeded in raising the necessary capital there. During his stay in Sydney' he had made many friends, as that meeting showed. His reason for leaving was that he felt out of his element in Sydney, because the freedom of the press did not exist there ; the press was subject to the tyranny of the Supreme Court. He had at his back gentlemen of unlimited means and pluck, but they were not prepared to risk their liberty at the will of the Supreme Court. The liberty of the press in New South Wales was a delusion and a snare. Again, he thought the Government there was a very bad Government, and one of his reasons for leaving was that he and those associated with him did not agree with reference to the Government of that country. At the same time he severed his connection with Ms colleagues on the paper with the greatest regret."