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Article XX. 

 On Smut in Wheat y new tnethodoffowhig by Handy &ff. 



TO THE SJECRETARY. 



Sir, 



IN the 5th volume of the Society's Papers, 

 Art. 17, 1 obferye an anonymous writer on the 

 fmut in wheat, who profefles to have made it a fub- 

 jc6t of enquiry, afTert, it is cau fed by a cold, wet 

 feafon when in bloom. He muft have been very in- 

 attentive not to have obferved, that fmutty ears not 

 only never blow in any feafon, but have never any 

 figns of that which, appearing on wheat ears, is 

 called bloom, and which in ears of wheat are to be 

 found inclofed, by opening the chaff before blowing j 

 but if the weather at that time prove cold and un- 

 favourable, fb much as to prevent the chaff opening 

 and the bloom from being difcharged, no grain 

 is produced therein, as it caufes what is here techni- 

 cally called a m'ljs in the car: therefore if the wea- 

 ther has any thing to do with the caufe of fmut^ 

 (which I doubt) it certainly mufl be in a much 

 earlier date of vegetation than your correfpondent 

 fuppofes ; for tlie fmut is to be difcovered as foon 

 as the wheat is podded; and immediately on the 

 burfting of tho pod, if the ear be picked out, it will 



be 



