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To prevent this malady, having got good feed, 

 limed after the ufual manner, fow early before the 

 feverc froft begins j for I imagine it perforates the 

 grain, and wounds fome part of it. Sometimes in a 

 very wet morning the lime is wafhed from the feed, 

 and this contributes to produce fmut. At prefent 

 this is chiefly ideal, not fufficiently authenticated by 

 experience. The pureft feed, if fown dry and late 

 in the autumn, will mod probably turn to fmut, to 

 the very great lofs of the farmer. We know good 

 and fmutty corns are produced in the fame ear. 

 Is it very improbable but nature has given to each 

 grain a tube or condu6lor from its root? If fo, it 

 may account for my hypothefis. 



I have taken the liberty to trouble you with my 

 thoughts on this very interefting fubjed, fuppofing, 

 under your patronage, it may undergo a farther in- 

 vefVigation. 



I am, Gentlemen, 



With great refpe(5l. 



Your obedient fervant, 



J^IaUcnbeaJ, Berks. W. R. 



O 3 A&TICLK 



