("193 ) 
XVI. Defer sinibh of the Blight of Wheat, Uredo Frumenti. By 
A. B. Lambert, Efg. F.R.S. V.P.L.S. 
Read December 5, 1797. 
HE wheat in the Weft of England, efpecially in the counties 
of Wilts and Somerfet,. has of late years been very much 
~ injured, by what is called there the Bight, and generally fup- 
pofed to be owing to an infeét. In the year 1797 the wheat was 
very much hurt by it, and a few years before there were feveral 
fields near Warminfter fo much injured that the farmers were 
obliged to have it cut down long before it was ripe; for, as foon as 
a field is blafted, as they call it, which happens fometimes in a day 
and night, vegetation ftops, and the only way to preferve the crop 
from being entirely loft is to reap it immediately.—I remember fee- 
ing a remarkably fine field of wheat, after one day’s warm rain, look 
at a {mall diftance as if it were covered with foot, which I was in- 
formed was owing to infects, but on examination I found to be a 
Fungus, which, no doubt, had been long fown in the ftem of the 
wheat, but wanted that kind of weather to occafion its vegetation, 
The ftem of the wheat where this Fungus appears is fplit; and 
when a whole ftem is almoft covered with it, which is generally 
the cafe, it hinders the plant’s growth. 
I find the genus to which this Fuxgus belongs well defcribed by 
Voi. IVs Cc Perfoon, 
