By the Associated Press
Raleigh, June 13—Specimens of a disease of wheat affecting the crop in Davie County have been identified as “take-all,” a destructive wheat disease first found in Australia about 25 years ago, it was announced. “This disease,” stated Dr. Wolf, “was first found in North Carolina in 1923. Collections were made about the same time in 1923 near Lincolnton by County Agent J.G. Morrison and near Statesville by County Agent R.W. Graeber. It has since been found in restricted areas in three other counties. The collection made in Davie Couty by County Agent George Evans makes the sixth county of this state in which “take-all is now known to occur.
“This disease is very destructive,” continued Dr. Wolf. “It has certain features which will enable any wheat grower to recognize it with considerable accuracy. The grower will find the affected plants in well-defined spot to be dwarfed or shrunken. These plants may be only 6 to 10 inches in height while normal plants are about 4 feet in height. Many of the affected plants will die prematurely or remain green until harvest time. The heads are always poorly filled while the lower joints are dark or entirely blacked and surrounded by a layer of delicate brown threads. These threads are a part of the causal fungus and imbedded in them are the black fruit bodies of the fungus. The roots are also blacked and somewhat decayed.
Dr. Wolfe explained that investigations were now underway by the North Carolina Experiment Station, co-operating with the United States Department of Agriculture. These studies have shown that oats and rye are immune to the trouble and that certain varieties of wheat may also be immune.
Dr. Wolff stated that the studies now being made may develop varieties of wheat that may be grown with safety in the infected soils.
“This fungus,” he concluded, “will attack wheat, barley, spelt, quack grass, cheat and a number of wild cultivated grasses.”
From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, Saturday, June 13, 1925. The scientist’s last name was usually spelled “Wolf” in the newspaper article, but also “Wolfe” and “Wolff” on other occasions.
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073201/1925-06-13/ed-1/seq-1/#words=JUNE+13%2C+1925
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