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YVRXYtfAIW CO^^'S. (Front tilt Report of the Department of Agricul ture of (icorgia.] MICROSCOPIC FUNGI—UREDO OR WHEAT RUST. lto\V itdroWs a ndsomk remedies suggested. The conviction is rapidly gaining ground, that almost nil diseases in the animal and vegetable kingdom are struggles, more or less fierce, between higher and lower life. How Over this may be with animals, it is certainly true that most of the disasters which happen to our cereal Crops originate in fungous Spores or insect germs. The most dreaded enemy of Wheat and oats in the South is prob ttbly the tlredo, or Red Rust. Indeed, it has caused many of our farmers to abandon the Culture of these best of all cereals. The microscopic fungi embrace several or ders with many genera. The Red Rust be longs to the order ccntiomycetes , which em braces several genera, such as smut, rust, blast, etc., (Rucaninea, Uredo. Ustilagia, etc.) Potato rot (Botrytis) is slightly different in order. In one short paper it would be im possible to notice all of these. We will con fine our discussion, therefore, to rusts, and mainly to the species which attacks wheat and oats ; premising that the propagation and growth of all are very similar, and, generally, what will prevent the one will alleviate the attacks of the others. In this paper, as far as practicable, only such terms will be used as may be readily understood. By a fungous, or parasitic plant, we mean such as grow on other plants and draw life, not from the soil, but directly from other life, as mistletoe and mushrooms. Rust is simply a mushroom, growing in different species, on wheat, oats, briers, cotton, apple, pine and other trees. One special kind, podisoma, forms the cedar apple. The seed spores are carried through the air by millions on millions, and falling on the leaves of trees, or the blades and stalks of grain and finding any place at which to cling or pore through which to send down a rootlet, under favorable conditions the}’ ger minate in a few hours, grow up like a mush room in a night, and multiply faster than all the fish of the sea. The}’ do not grow from seed proper, but from very minute cells, call ed spores, which are lighter than the dust in the air. It is now thought that even the least conceivable portion of plastic matter from otic of these cells is sufficient, under certain conditions, to start the growth, as they seem to grow by either ‘ fission” or “conjunc tion.” Figure 1, below, shows one of these 9porcs which has just fastened itself in a wrinkle on a wheat stalk. It generally clings first to the ’upper surface of a blade, and in wet weather. Figure 2, shows the growth forty-eight hours Hater. The growth is most rapid when the air is very warm and damp. Figure 3, (a.) -exhibits the cuticle of a wheat stalk broken ’up by a great bundle of rust plants. Figure -3, (b. and c.) exhibits one each of the dry r rust-cells from wheat and oats magnified eight ' hundred diameters. These cells are what produce the red stain ‘from rusty green wheat, and the pungent, * heavy dust made in threshing such wheat 'when ripe. Figure 4, shows development of ‘the rust after the wheat stalk is dead. Figure 5 presents another form of the plant, devel oped later, as the straw begins to decay ; the •common rust-cells spreading out on the sur face like the leaves of the dock, and the “ Phragmidia,” (once supposed to be another species) shooting up from the centre like the stem of said dock. In figure 6, we see the bundle of rust phragmidia breaking up into apparent pods, each of which contains m3’ri ;nds of germ spores. Fig. I.—Showing spores—a—just fastened to stem of wheat. Spore is greatly magnified. Fig. 2.—Showing growth 48 hours later. Mag nified. Fig. 3.—Rust at—a—breaking through cuticle •of straw—b—rust cell from wheat—c—rust cell from oats—b and c magnified about 800 diameters. Fits. 4.—Showing second stage of rust; greatly magnified. C‘%, 'wheat Fig. o. — 3d stage of rust, showing at—a—cluster of rust cells with phragmidium growing from top—b—de- tached phragmidium of wheat rust—c—detached phragmidium of oat rust. Rust much magnified. We have here exhibited the successive growths from about the 20th of May till It will be noticed that the round cell and phraginidium on the wheat are both somewhat different from those on the oat. Even greater differences are noted in the growth from the rose, pine, cedar, apple, etc., resulting from different species or different food ; which of the two causes not yet being fully known. If space allowed we would be pleased to illustrate the different results of attacks on a smooth, hard stalk of wheat, and on a rough, wrinkled stalk, such as is exhibited in the cuts above. From which illustration we would show that when the cuticle, or outside covering, of the wheat stalk or blade is hard, smooth and perfect as it ought to be in healthy growth, the rust germ, falling on it, finds lodgment with difficulty, and even when the spore sticks, its rootlet cannot penetrate into the sap of the wheat plant. Thus no serious harm results, if the wheat or oat plant is properly covered with a thick, heavy cuticle or epidermis such as the wheat and oats farther north are apt to have. This, and what follows, will fully explain the exemption from rust in certain species of wheat and oats for a short time after said species are brought from hardier climes ; and it will also be seen why such exemption does not continue under a southern culture and climate. The microscope and anatysis reveal to us that wheat and oats and all such plants are covered on the outside with a bard, rocky cuticle, which is a kind of glass : on a cane it is so thick and hard as to severely try a knife of the very best metal. This glass is a salt, and its acid is silex, or sand, while the base may be potash, clay, soda, lime, mag nesia, or any good alkali, forming different kinds of glass; a9 potassium, aluminum, sodium, calcium, magnesium and other sili cates. Wc see then, that to make secure pro j tection for any plant, the soil must contain a good amount of silicon or sand and so much of good alkali as may be needed to combine with this sand. The oxides In the clay are also probabl} 7 important in forming cuticle and fibre. It has been assumed by our writers on agricul ture that our lands here contain inexhaustible supplies of sand and alkali of some sort; hence they have turned all their attention, in fertilizers, to keeping up due quantities of phosphates and nitrogenous compounds. This is probably a great mistake; such as the world is ever making by having public atten tion all turned in one direction. We are al ways oscillating from one extreme to the other and thus missing the golden mean. Many of our stiff, red lands need sand more than ammonia, and an admixture of clay would frequently more improve the loose sand beds than any quantity of phosphoric acid. We have just watched with great care a small piece of wheat which was almost ruined from lack of sand and alkali. The ground on which it grew bad beer, greatly enriched by pea cfops and other de posits of organic matter; the culture was light, the sand and clay or lime were not suf ficiently mixed or brought to the surface; the wheat grew up vcr} T rapidly and tall, but having no strengthening material, so soon as it began to head, it nearly all tumbled to the ground ; and although the portion standing ripened very early, it was greatly injured by the rust. The stalks under the microscope showed very thin walls, little fibre and scarcely any cuticle. During the last four or five years we have had many experiments with wheat and other plants conducted carefully, in order to dis cover the causes and prevention of rust. Last year, on a piece of gray land, having plenty of sand, Mr. 8. P. Orr, of Jackson, sowed some wheat, first carefully subsoiling a certain portion, and thereby mixing a small part of the clay or lime with the sand. The section subsoiled and otherwise treated exactly as the other, produced much better wheat, which bad on it scarcely anj’ rust, while on the other part great damage resulted from that fungus. Almost any farmer can tell us that on a sandy soil where a log-heap, especially hick ory, lias been burned and wheat sown there the same season, on that particular spot no serious damage will come from rust. The alkali of the ashes and the sand of the soil, uniting, form a splendid cuticle for the wheat stalks ; and such stalks, on examina tion, will be found a9 bright and a9 smooth as glass. In 1879, Mr. Frank Stark, of Jackson county, used salt on a piece of gra}’ land, and thereby prevented rust in cotton, while the surrounding portions were much damaged. Salt furnishes the soda, an alkali. The same year, Mr. F. A. Glenn, in Floyd county, on a piece of land having an abundance of lime, but no sand, used the salt without any bene ficial result. It has been often noticed and remarked by farmers, that rust first makes its appearance, in wheat, about those spots where there had been wet-weaiher springs leaching away all the available alkali. Stable manure also tends to prevent rust by its stimulus and aid in uniting the alkalis and sand. Many other similar facts result’ ing from experiments are in our possession, and they all seem to point significantly to the importance of having these plant foods in the soil and having them well mixed. After five years of inquiry and investiga tion, and four years of careful observation with the microscope, the conviction is very decided in our mind, that the rust can flever seriously damage the wheat or oat which has an abundant supply of sand and alkali, and, consequently, a thick, smooth cuticle.* It is almost certain that this fungus first ♦Since the above was written, Major Jones and Dr. Henry, of Elbert county, have reported to me some experiments in that county with kainit, a I much not.ash nr Fig. 6.—Show ing cluster of ma ture spores fallen apart and each containing many germs. Greatly magnified. attacks those stalks which, from exposed roots, bad culture and deficient food, are un healthy and have a rough exterior and thin epidermis. \\ e do not mention the many favorable re sults at the North and West from the use of hall-leached ashes, lime or alkalies of some form. They are before the public, and each one can judge for himself. Having thus glanced at some of the causes of disaster from rust, we next suggest some appropriate REMEDIES. We would not depreciate the importance of a rich humus and good fertilizers containing nitrogenous compounds; for a vigorous, healthy growtli is the first and probably the most important preventive. As in man, so in plants, vigorous health is generally the best protection against epi demic disease. First, then, let the ground be well fertilized, adding .a small portion of sand where there is a great predominance of clay ; and add ashes, clay or some alkali, where it is very sandy. This last may be done partly by subsoiling. Then let it be well broken and thoroughly pulverized and mixed, before the seed is sown. This will perhaps cost more labor on one acre ; but one acre may be made to produce from three to five times as much as it has yielded by the old plan. Second, wo suggest that they get an}' good so-called rust proof variety, and keep it so by a proper culture and the means here indicated. As we now cultivate wheat, no variety will remain rust proof here more than three or four years. After soaking in blaestone, to destroy all diseased grains, let it be drilled and covered evenly, or, if sown, covered with a harrow. Then let the ground be rolled or brushed, breaking down all ridges, thereby preventing the freezing and thawing from exposing the ! root3 and producing rough, unhealthy stalks. All the facts and suggestions here given in reference to wheat, apply in general as well to oats. The remedies indicated are very simple and may be easily tried by almost any one. As stated above, they have been frequently applied as direct tests; and without an} T reference to rusts they have been oftener used with beneficial results. No harm can possibly result from completing the experiments. Let every farmer save all the ashes possible, and, if practicable, in the fall, just before he sows his wheat, let the dry vegetation on the ground be burned. Riles of old straw and leaves hauled there and burned, just before breaking, will prove a great benefit, as it will not only furnish some alkali but will destroy myriads of seed spores and insect germs. In former papers we have several times suggested that the burning of old fields and leaf heaps in the woods would greatly lessen onr disasters from all fungous growth and insect attack, as well as protect our timbers and prevent many diseases to which humanity is here subject. Our suggestions have been opposed with more bitterness than reason. Oar facts still stand ; our arguments have never been re futed, and direct experiments conducted du ring the past three years to solve some of these problems, go far to prove that the burn ing of woods and old fields about the first of December, or later in some parts of the {State, would contribute greatly to the safety of our crops, the value of our timber and lands, and to the protection of man against disease. Under Divine guidance, the Jews used fire as the great purifier, and here in the South, where we have such accumulations of decay ing vegetable matter, in old fields and virgin forests, which heaps are the natural food of rust, smut, blast, and all fungous growth, we can hardly expect perfect exemption to ce reals or fruit trees until we destroy by fire some of these hot beds and reduce the infinite production of fungous spores and insect germs. Any other remedy seems now to promise little more than alleviation to many of these evils. Science, however, is gathering immense stores from this field of investiga tion. In the past few years the microscope has opened one of the richest Golcondas of knowledge and revealed to us many of those masked enemies from which animal and plant have been so long suffering; and we hope that human intellect will soon find remedies or protection against these secret foes, reduce the ills to which human flesh is heir, and guard our crops against blast and rust and all fungoid growth. It is not at all impossi ble that the bold enterprise and persistent energy which chain the lightning and harness the steam, may convert the red rust into a source of wealth, and from the deadly blast distill the elixir of life. John W. Glenn. W WY\Sw\x C\W\Wy \.\WB, . Letters from Russia depict a sad condition of things as regards the Jews. It is no rare occurrence, especially in the south, for rich Jews to be falsely accused of some imaginary crime and their property confiscated. The victims are glad to escape with their lives, and if they venture to return they are seized as vagabonds or as bearing an assumed name, and banished to Siberia or removed to distant parts of the empire. During one of the recent riots in southern Russia a man entered a baker shop kept b3’ a Jewess and bought a loaf of bread, which he began to eat as he went out. As soon ss he reached the street he threw himself upon the ground and began writhing about as though in excruciating pain, at the same time exclaiming, “ I am poisoned ! The Jews have poisoned me!” A crowd assembled, and threatening demonstration were made against the sliop. It would undoubtedly have been sacked within a few minutes, and its occupants maltreated and perhaps killed, had not the Jewess by whom the bread had been sold stepped out, snatched the bread from the writhing wretch on the ground, and begun to eat it herself before the eves of the mob. LMpi kkkkkkkk 'llic loading ol*lo-lsiy a^rec that most diseases are caused by disordered Kid neys or Liver. Tf, therefore, the Kidneys and Liver arc kept in perfect order, perfect health will be the result. This truth has only been known a short time and for years people suffered great agony without being able to find relief. The dis covery of Warner's Safe Kidney and Liver Cure marks anew era in the treatment of these trou bles. Made from a simple tropical leaf of rare value, it contains just the elements necessary to nourish and invigorate both of these great organs, and safely restore and keep them in order. It is a rOSITIIK Rrmedy for all the diseases that cause pains in the lower part of the body— for Torpid Liver—Headaches—Jaundice—Dizzi ness—Gravel—Fever. Ague—Malarial Fever, and all difficulties of the Kidneys, Liver and Urinary Organs. It is an excellent and safe remedy for females during Pregnancy It will control Menstruation and is invaluable for Leucorrhcea or Falling of the Womb. Asa Blood Purifier it is uncqualcd, for it cures the organs that make the blood. This Remedy, which has done such wonders, is put up in the LARGEST SIZED BOTTLE of any medicine upon the market, and is sold by Druggists and all dealers at 81.5 U per bottle. For Diabetes, enquire for WARNER’S SAFE DIABETES CURE. It is a POSITIVE Remedy. H. H. WARNER & CO., Rochester, N. Y. BUTLER'S [SAFES FOli RAILROAD TICKET OFFICES' kkkkk FOR RAILROAD AND EXPRESS COMPANIES; ESTIMATES AND DRAWINGS FIIRNISHCO POUND CORNER yl FIRE pro;oe* > [SAFES ] EXT I=l at SECURE LOCKS WH 291 BRO^W york GENERAL ACC NT fOR IDIEBQLD SAFEtLOCK CQ Starvation Prices! WE ARE WELL STOCKED WITH Provisions! to feed the hungry multitudes, and will sell our goods for cash prices so close to the first cost that you cannot tell the difference. We have added a full line of Boots and Shoes to our stock. Wc bought them for the CASH, and will sell them at SHOUT PROFIT, in order to build up our trade in this particular line. Call and price. Don’t Buy Unless Yon Gel a Bargain! ASK TO SEE OUR Plow Shoes! The very thing for the fanner. The Prettiest Ladies Shoe Ever Sold in Jefferson! Come and look. No trouble to show goods. A. H. BROCK & CO. Jefferson, Ga., Aug. 19, ISSI. FLrORBSTON Fragrant, COLOGNE. Refreshing-. A'New, Delightful and Fashionable Perfume. Sold by druggists and fancr goods dealers. None genuine w ithout .signature of RISCOX & CO., Chemists, N. Y. IPARKER S GINGER TONIC ► ti inger, Buchn, Mandrake, Stillingia and' ► many of the best medicines known are combined jin Parker s Ginger Tonic, into a medicine of puch varied and effective powers, as to make it ►the greatest Blood Purifier and the “Best Health A Strength Restorer pver nsed. , It cures Dyspepsia, Rheumatism, Neural gia, Sleeplessness, and all diseases of the Stomach, Bowels, Lungs, Liver, Urinary Organs, and all Female Complaints. If you are wasting away with Consumption or any disease, use the Tonic to-day. No matter what your symptoms are, it will surely help you. Remember! This Tonic never intoxicates, cures drunkenness, is the Best Family Med icine ever made, and entirely different from Bitters, Ginger Preparations, and other Tonics. Buy a 50c. bottle of your druggist. None gen uine without our signature on outside wrapper. w Hiscox & Cos., Chemists. N. Y. DiOKTD'CUAID DAI CAU Th( best and most eeo rnnßLn W llnin DnLvniyißomlrAl Kaiy ifn^ln| ▼ ■ ■ "ITT HD Yourselves by making money JimiiJLiJk when a golden chance is offer ed, thereby always keeping poverty from your door. Those who always take advantage of the good chances for making money that are offered, generally become wealthy, while those who do not improve such chances remain in poverty. We want many men, women, boys and girls to work for us right in their own localities. The business will pay more than ten times ordinary wages. We furnish an expensive outfit and all that you need, free. No one who engages fails to make money very rapidly. You can devote your whole PARKER & CAMP RROS. We have within the last few weeks opened up a first-class stock of FANCY and FAMILY GROCERIES, CIGARS AND TOBACCO, STAPLE DRY GOODS, IIATS AND SHOES, All of which we are offering at Rools. Bottom Prices. Our Goods Arc Rought From Manufacturers For Cash A And We Will Sell As Cheap As The Cheapest. GIVE TJS A CALL, \\u\ Yw Cowv v vwtev\ Y\\av\ YV e \\ \uv\ AY c Swvp . Respectf\icily, PARKER & CAMP PROS., Feb. 25 No. 12 Broad Street, Athens, Ga. THE DANIEL PRATT COTTON aSr I THE BEST IN THE WORLD! RECEIVED PREMIUMS AT ALL THE STATE FAIRS IN THE COTTON GROWING STATES! PRICE $3.50 PER SAW, DELIVERED. EVERY GTN, FEEDER, and CONDENSER GUARANTEED TO GIVE 3? E B. E E O T S .A. T I S E A C T I O IN’ . This Gin CLEANS THE SEED and makes a better SAMPLE than any Gin on the market. T. FLEMING- & SONS, Agents, June 24 Hardware Merchants, Athens, Ga. FIRE PROOF MESSENGER BOXES HENRY HUMAN’S POND fork: store. FIMIERE is no fisc going to Atlanta, Athens, Gainesville, Jefferson, or any other largo city or JL town, to get what you want on your farm or in your house, as 1 keep a full line of i)RY GOODS, CLOTHING, HOOTS AND SHOES, YANKEE NOTIONS, CROCKERY, GLASS AND WOODEN WARE, GROCERIES OF ALL KINDS, SUGAR, COFFEE, TEAS, RICE, PEPPER, and all kinds of Spices. A full stock of Bacon, Flour, Meal, Syrup and Molasses. Also, all kinds of FARM TOOLS, PLOWS, HOES, RAKES, FORKS, Etc. All of Tliese Goods Will be sold cheap for cash, or on time to prompt paying customers, and none others. I shall, in addition to the above, keep a full line of the BEST OF CORN WIIISKY and other spirits for medicinal purposes. Come and examine my goods and prices before making your purchases. The highest market price always jaid for COT* TON and other FARM PRODUCTS. HENRY HUMAN, apl 15 Pond Fork, Jack Son county, Georgia. BALDWIN & BURKETT, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL DEALERS IN BOOTS AJNTB SHOES, No. 3 Broad Street, Athens, Georgia. WE HAVE just received the largest and most complete stock of Hoots and Shoes ercr brought to Athens. The quality of our goods is of the highest order, and our prices within the reach of all. We deal EXCLUSIVELY in this line, and promise the most courteous treatment and perfect satisfaction to dll who tnaj’ call. TO MERCHANTS: Our WHOLESALE DEPARTMENT is complete, ami we guarantee prices as low as any house in the South, and will save you freight. GIVE US -A- O -A. LL. BALDWIN § BURNETT. Athens, Ga., October Ist, 1880. O. ID- M'KIE, ATHENS, --------- GEORGIA. AGENT FOU T. X. HAYCOCK’S Cincinnati Buggies and Carriages, CoVvv\w\)us Co\ V v v\\e t\\\A THE CELEBRATED MILBURN ONE AND TWO-HORSE FARM WAGON. good assortment of Harness. Also Manufacturers’ Agents for the W INSHIP COTTON GIN, Cotton Press, Condenser and Feeder, the best gin outfit on the market. Steam Engines, Saw Mills and Agricultural Implements. Prompt attention paid to orders. Terms liberal. 01-