^thly. That the fmut is not an hereditary difcafc, 

 proceeding from a corrupt or vitiated ftamina in the 

 ieed, but ufually and almoft entirely occafioned by 

 Ibme blight or vitiating principle in the atmofphere, 

 which corrupts or deftroys the vivifying principle, at 

 the time of its blowing and fecundation. 



^tbly. If the fmut ever proceeds from diftempered 

 feed, it can be only from fuch as hath the germ or 

 leminal principle found and entire; for mere fmut 

 balls are as incapable of vegetation as powder of 

 poft) or the molt effete matter in nature ; but this 

 is a cafe fo rare as not to be adequate to the pro- 

 duction of a millionth part of the fmut that hap- 

 pens; therefore it mufl generally proceed from fome 

 malignant principle, which at fome feafons fubfifts 

 in the air. 



6tbly, and laftly, If the caufe of the fmut does 

 not fubfift in fome latient or occult corrupt principle 

 in the feed, but is generally occafioned by the in- - 

 temperance of the air, fix or eight months after the 

 feed v/as fown, it feems perfectly nugatory to ufe 

 any means to remedy or prevent a diforder, which 

 has no exiftence, even in its caufe, and moil pro-^ 

 bably may never happen, unlefs it could te made 

 appear, that fuch means bellowed fuch a degree of 



ftrength 



