BLIGHT IN CORN. J 4$ 



At length on the 1ft of Auguft, I faw in a low field the Third difcafe} 

 firft appearance of yellow ruft, but collected one with dif- theruft 

 flculty ; and now I found that it was univerfally agreed by our 

 farmers, that this fungus, as our plate defcribes it, was con- confidered at 

 iidered as the effed of fogs or great humidity, which firft humidity* 

 attacks the leaf or (heath of the ftraw, but ultimately pene- 

 trates, and vegetates on the upper joint of the ftraw itfelf, 

 tvhere it is uncovered juft before the corn is ripe, fo that what 

 our plate exhibits is by all agreed to be called the ruft in all 

 flages ; but that the ruft caufes the latter blight , or ears with 

 fhrivelled grains does not feem to be fo generally agreed. 



To prevent the fmut, our farmers fteep their wheat in The procefs of 

 fait water, in order to feparate the found grains from the lightor ^ e e f t " g f f *'"* 

 blighted better than by freth water, becaufe fait water naturally the heaviett fur 

 floats all but the heavieft. In the Venetian (rate I remember feed * 

 they added faltpetre to the fteep on the fame principle, a very 

 different fyftem from that of Sir Jofeph, who recommends, I 

 think very dangeroufly, the ufe even of tailings as feed, and 

 this on mere hot houfe experience, fee p. 25 (or 232 Journal.) 



An old and good farmer * laft year at Wefton, bought good Smutty grain 

 wheat for feed becaufe his own wa&fmutty, but not having " ot ufed for 

 quite enough, he fowed about three pecks of his own fmutty y et f me fuc- 

 wheat to finifh, and it turned out quite as good wheat as fome ce e ded * 

 of that which was bought as the beft; yet this does not con- 

 firm the doctrine, I think. 



Having thus afcertained what is called the early blight or 

 mildew, together with that which follows, and is known by the 

 term fmut, and alfo the difeafe which comes next, and being 

 ftmilar to Sir Jofeph's Banks's plate, is called ruft, and laftly Latter blight; or 

 the latter blight which is feen in merely flirivelled grains, or ihrivefledgrain$ ' 

 grains imperfectly ripened ; — I (hall now proceed to the fpeci- 

 mens which I gathered in all the ftates, made drawings of 

 them, and ftill retain in the ear labelled with great care, as 

 proofs of what is here advanced ; after which I fhall make 

 fome deductions. 



On 22nd of July, 1805. I began my collection ; and No. 1. Accounts of 

 contains healthy ears, clean to outward appearance, the lowenV wheTt^athered 

 leaf a fpeck or two of fungus. Second joint from the head a in this enquiry, 

 little reddilh. No bloom on the cane. 



* Mr* Oakley of Wefton-Supra-Mare. 



