PREVENTION OF RED RUST.

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1729, 4 August 1883, Page 6

PREVENTION OF RED RUST.

Therk ia no kind of wheat which can be relied upon aa being rust-proof, though some varieties are known to withstand the attacks of the fungus better than others. In districts where the disease frequently prevails the bearded and red. wheats are held in most favor on account of their hardiness ; but the millers naturally prefer the finer white varieties. Indian wheat, supposed to be rust-proof, was introduced into New South Wales and Queensland, but it has been found to be readily destroyed by rust. "Pickling" seed-wheat does good by destroying any rust spores that may be adhering to the grain, but it cannot be considered as a means of ensuring the safety of the crop. It is a fact, however, that red rust manifests itself first on crops grown from unpickled seed ; for instance, on self-Bown crops. The farmer should, therefore, ne^er sow undressed seed, even though the pickling does not in any way enable the crops to withstand the attacks of spores brought by wind, or which may have existed in the soil. The best advice that the farmer can follow in order to avoid the loss of his wheat through red rust is to avoid using forcing manures on the land, to select only the hardier varieties of grain, and to sow early. By sowing early in the season the crop matures before the disease can do much harm. An excellent and effective means of checking spring-proud wheat, and of regulating the growth of the crop consists in eating down with sheep. This is also a certain cure against rust when it has already penetrated the young wheat. The Weather and condition of the ground must be

favorable tq^he eating down, and as many sheep as possible should be put into the paddock so as/to get over the ground quickly., ThWheat soon comes up again, and stronger . than .before. ' .'