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injury whilft it lies' on the furfacc of the ground, or 

 but (lightly covered; for I imagine the dijeaje 

 then begins, and continues 'till the fmut- balls are 

 formed j befides, the lime adls as a ftimulator after 

 It is efFedlually covered. 



If the injury be owing, as fome of your corre- 

 fpondents have fuppofed, to the inclemency of the 

 weather at the time of blooming; what Ihali we fay, 

 when we fee two adjoining lands, for inftance, in a 

 common field, belonging to different occupiers, 

 who ufed different feed, begin their blowing at the 

 fame time; one fhall be almoft free from fmut, 

 and the other very much injured ? This cannot 

 be owing to the atmofphere, for they have both 

 the fame,* 



Every grain, when committed to the earth has, 

 or Ihould have, its embryo perfed ; and having ab- 

 forbed fome moiilure, a fermentation commences, 

 and the fixed air in the corn begins its motion, and 

 by a rapid circulation warms the germ and its con- 

 comitant parts; fome parr at that jun6bure receives 

 a check, and a mortification enfues, but in fo frnall 

 a way as not to aff^fl the great progrefs of vegeta- 

 tion, *till nature has almoft finifhed her work. 



* Sec Mr. Wimpey's opinion on this point, in his next letter. 



