RUST IN WHEAT.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3006, 12 February 1881, Page 3

RUST IN WHEAT.

(South Australian Advertiser, 23rd December).

In the face of intelligence from all parts of the colony of the devastation caused by red rust, it is but natural that the public should inquire as to whether there is no specific for tlic pest. The real cause of red rust has never been scientifically determined, and the disease has been ascribed to atmospheric influences and to careless farming, while the latest explanation offered Ims been that it is clue to a parasite which has been discovered in the wheat affectocl. While the world lias been speculating upon the cause of the disease, many men have been busily engaged trying to discover whether a wheat could not be producod which would be utterly imprevious to the ravages of the disease. The result of the experiments which have been made, and the success which has been attained in certain quarters, undoubtedly point to the fact that there are particular varieties of wheat whioh are able to resist the insidious effects of red rust. We now more specially refer to two classes of wheat, the Defiance and Champlain, which have been received from America in this colony, and have been experimented upon so far with the most graifying results. The samples were received from Messrs Bliss and Co., of New York, and are known as Pringle's new hybrid spring wheats. In 1870 Mr Pringle, with the laudable aim of uniting two qualities of wheat so as to render the hybrid specimen perfectly rust-proof, and at the same time to obtain a thoroughly good sample, set to work, and the result was the production of the Champlain. In 1871, still further prosecuting his experiments, Mr Pringle produced the Defiance wheat, and both of these wheats are guaranteed as being of excellent quality and quite rust-proof. There is a tendency, however, in Australia to accept any statement that comes from America with a large grain of salt; and when Dr. Sohomburgk, the worthy director of the Botanic Gardens, received some samples of the much-vaunted varieties of wheat, the result of his experiments with them was looked forward to by the farmers with considerable interest. The doctor, not content with making experiments himself, distributed the wheat among some of our practical farmers, recognising the importance of having corroborative evidence with respect to the qualities of the two samples. A short time ago we published an interesting communication from Mr P. J. Spain, of Telowie, detailing the result of his planting of the Defiance and Champlain wheats. His evidence on the subject is all the more valuable when it is borne in mind that in the Telowie district red rust has made very great ravages ; and the fact that the two wheats named came off almost scot free, while other varieties around were greatly affected with the disease, argues iavorably for the rust-resistant qualities of the American samples. The Defiance wheat is very productive, vigorous and hardy. It is a beardless white chaff wheat, with heads frequently three to five inches long, very closely set, with large kernels often numbering from sixty to eighty to the single head. It has stout, stiff, erect straw, three feet six inches in height. The Champlain is a bearded wheat, which yields a plump redcolored grain, with a strong vigorous straw about three feet eight inches in height, bearing heads from three to five inches long, of which contain from sixty to seventy kernels Although one-third of the Champlain wheat sown by Mr Spain had streaks of red rust on the leaf or flag, it did not injure the yield. Corroborative evidence of this repore from Mr Spain has also been received, and the Commissioner of Crown Lands has just received from Dr Schomburgk two excellent samples of the Defiance and Champlain wheats, sown in his garden on the 20th of May. TJufortunately the sparrows attacked the wheat, so that it had to be protected by means of paper, and this to a certain extent interfered with its ripening. Around these wheats were sown other varieties, which all took the rust, while the American wheats were quite untouched. The Commissioner had expressed himself very well pleased with the success of the experiments made, more particularly with the Defiance wheat, and intends to send the samples given him to a practical man in order that they may be properly tested. Recognising the importance to the colony of introducing such superior classes of wheat, the Commissioner has telegraphed to Messrs Bliss ancl Co., asking what quantity of Defiance wheat they could supply, ancl what would be its cost, with a view of recommending his colleagues to get a large quantity of the wheat for the purpose of selling it to the farmers in the colony, and of planting some on the experimental farm in the south-east. Should the reply received be favorable and the Government agree with tho Commissioner as to the desirableness of introducing the wheat into the colony, it is highly probable that it will be received here in time for planting next year. Tho farmers will doubtless be only too glad to get samples of wheat which will resist the ravages of rust, and tho action taken by the Commissioner will meet with general approval.