n5l.] The Fungi. 387 



WHAT IS SMUT — BUNT — UREDO-P(ETIDA ? 



There has been more speculation, contrariety of views and wild 

 and fanciful theories about this form of smut than almost any other 

 agricultural or horticultural peat. 



The disgusting odor which it emits may be perceived on passing 

 through a field where it prevails. 



On being rubbed it has an oily consistency, becomes cohesive to 

 the finders and intolerable to the sense of smell. 



When an infected head is broken it diffuses itself as an inpalpa- 

 ble powder over everything in reach, adhering to every sound grain 

 upon which it falls ; and in harvesting, threshing and winnowing it 

 is impossible for a single grain to escape defilement. So obnoxious 

 is it that flour manufactured of wheat having but an occasional head 

 of this smut in it, it is perceptibly tainted by it. 



It is curious to listen to the numerous theories of farmers as to 

 the supposed cause of this malady. AVe will briefly mention a few 

 of them and their refutation. 



One alleges that it arises from a want of proper fertilization when 

 the wheat is in bloom, either from the pollen being washed off by 

 rain or from some putrefactive chemical change which it may 

 undergo. This cannot be so, for smut is found to affect the very 

 organs of fructification, either to impair or destroy them before the 

 pollen can be formed. 



Another not so learned stoutly affirms that smut arises from the 

 humidity of the atmosphere or the prevalence of fogs, or the breaking 

 forth of intense sunshine while the crop is in a moist condition. 

 No doubt this is so, says neighbor B., for I find yonder southern 

 exposure develops more smut than any other part of my field. 

 Thus from such hasty generalization the matter is at once settled, 

 the point is clear. But by careful experiment this theory has been 

 disproved ; for it is found the fact that smut is observable in an 

 early stage of the plant's vegetation, even long before it has escaped 

 from the leafy envelopes. 



I have found it ! I have found it ! says a third. It is caused by 

 excess of moisture; wet uudrained ground is sure to produce smut. 

 Neighbor S., who lives next me, by underdraining his ground which 

 was just like mine has no smut while mine is full of it. Hence 

 underdraining is pronounced a sure remedy and excess of moisture 

 is the cause. But stop, IMr. L. sowed a different kind of wheat — 

 the genesee flint — and his land was underdrained and it is full of 



