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XVI. Bcfcription of the Might of Wheat, Undo Frumentl. By 

 A % B. Lambert, Efq. F. R. S. V. P. L. S. 



Read December 5, 1 797» 



THE wheat in the Weft of England, efpecially in the counties 

 of Wilts and Somerfet, has of late years been very much 

 injured, by what is called there the Blight, and generally fup- 

 pofed to be owing to an infect. In the year 1797 the wheat was 

 very much hurt by it, and a few years before there were feveral 

 fields near Warminfter {o much injured that the farmers were 

 obliged to have it cut down long before it was ripe ; for, as foon as 

 a field is blafted, as they call it, which happens fometimes in a day 

 and night, vegetation ftops, and the only way to preferve the crop 

 from being entirely loft is to reap it immediately.— I remember fee- 

 ing a remarkably fine field of wheat, after one day's warm rain, look 

 at a fmali diftance as if it were covered with foot, which I was in- 

 formed was owing to infects, but on examination I fSund to be a 

 Fungus, which, no doubt, had been long fown in the Hem of the 

 wheat, but wanted that kind of weather to ocafion its vegetation. 

 The ftem of the wheat where this Fungus appears is fpht ; and 

 when a whole ftem is almoft covered with it, which is generally 

 the cafe, it hinders the plant's growth. 



I find the genus to which this Fungus belongs well defcribed by 

 Vol. IV. C c Perfoon, 



