76 MICROSCOPIC FUNGI. 



CHAPTER VI. 



SMUTS. 



ONE of the fungal diseases of corn long and 

 widely known has obtained amongst agri- 

 culturists different appellations in different lo- 

 calities. In some it is the " smut/' in others it is 

 respectively " dust-brand/' " bunt-ear/' " black- 

 ball/' and " chimney-sweeper/' all referring, more 

 or less, to the blackish soot-like dust with which 

 the infected and abortive ears are covered. This 

 fungus does not generally excite so much concern 

 amongst farmers as the other affections to which 

 their corn-crops are liable. Perhaps it is not really 

 so extensively injurious, although it entirely destroys 

 every ear of corn upon which it establishes itself. 

 Wheat, barley, oats, rye, and many grasses are 

 subject to its attacks, and farmers have been heard 

 to declare that thev like to see a little of it, because 

 its presence proves the general excellence of the 

 whole crop. No one who has passed through a field 

 of standing corn, after its greenness has passed 

 away, but before it is fully ripe, can have failed to 

 notice, here and there, a spare, lean-looking ear, 

 completely blackened with a coating of minute dust 

 (plate V. fig. 98). If he has been guilty of brushing 

 in amongst the corn, it will still be remembered how 



