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From this (late of fads it is hardly poflible to 

 refift the convidion that the fmut is caufed by the 

 inclemency of the atmofphere, and that conftantly 

 and invariably in the feafon of its blowing. 



To fum up the whole of this matter then, it 

 feems as certain, as demonftration can render it, 

 that the fmut is not owing to any defe6l or imper- 

 fedlion in the feed, but entirely to fome corrupt 

 vitiating principle of the atmofphere, in the blow- 

 ing fcafon, which blights and deftroys the grain in 

 fome fhape or another, according to the time it has 

 been blowing, when it is (truck with the blight. 

 Thofe ears which are totally deprived of their blow- 

 ings at the beginning of the feafon, before the corn 

 in its embryo flate is duly impregnated v/ith the 

 farina fecundansy or male, dud, become abortive, 

 and are abfolutely without any corn at all, Thofe 

 that are further advanced, and have the embryo 

 formed ready for impregnation, if in that ftate they 

 are deprived of the fecundating principle, either 

 wholly or in part, the milky matter, which confti- 

 tutes the fubftance of the grain, for want of the vi- 

 vifying principle, is wholly, or in a certain propor- 

 tional part, converted into a ball of black ftinking 

 powder, or fmut. Sometimes, even after the corn 

 is well formed and filled with the milky juice, fuf- 

 ficiently impregnated with the male principle, it is 



ftruck; 



