S6 MICROSCOPIC FUNGI. 



remarks inspired no sucli alarm in tlie districts of 

 our experience, but in some seasons and localities 

 it is certainly one of the ^'^ pests of tlie farm/' 

 Under the different appellations of " bunt/' " pepper 

 brand," ^' bladder brand,'' and sometimes ^^ smut," 

 this infection is very generally known. Externally 

 there is no appearance, except to the practised eye, 

 that anything is wrong. There is no black impal- 

 pable dust about the ears as in the true ^^ smut," 

 no red withered leaves or spotted stem as in the 

 " rust" and ^^ mildew," and no stunted growth or 

 malformation, evident to the casual glance, by which 

 the insidious foe can be recognized ; but stealthily 

 and secretly the work is accomplished, and until 

 the " bunted" grains make their appearance in tho 

 sample, the disease may^ perchance,, be unchal- 

 lenged. 



Externally the '^ bunted " grain is plumper, and 

 whilst the corn is still green these will be of a brighter 

 green than the rest (plate V. fig. 84) . "When broken, 

 the farinaceous interior will be found replaced by a 

 minute black dust of a very foetid, unpleasant odour, 

 and greasy to the touch (fig. 85). This powder 

 constitutes the spores of the ^^ bunt" mixed with 

 myceloid threads. It may happen that much of 

 the corn in a field is " bunted," and the discovery 

 not made till the wheat is being ground for flour ; 

 then the odour and colour will speedily decide the 

 produce to be unfit for human food. We have not 

 the least doubt that '^ bunted" corn, when ground 



