On Smut in JVheat. 53 



able to conclude, that although their intercourse with 

 the farinaceous part of the grain, is minute, yet their 

 ramifications are independent, as well as the leaders of 

 the respective parts of the plant, to their proper offsets, 

 the independence of which, has been proved, by fre- 

 quently parting the offsets, and planting apart, in which 

 cases, they matured the grain, v/ith an increase of some 

 hundred fold. Each member of those offsets, radically 

 pure and perfect, although subdivided to a great extent, 

 performed its respective function in vegetation. 



The washing recommended, is merely to remove 

 the smut and imperfect grain ; whatever is found most 

 effectual for diat purpose, is deemed the most expedi- 

 ent. No dependance is placed on various steeps, as it is 

 presumed, that plump seed, well kept, and laid in a soil 

 well prepared, is the best security against smut and 

 every disease. 



Since writing the above, I have met with a case of 

 a palm tree, somewhat analogous to the h}pothesis, the 

 palma major, foliis flabelliformibus. A tree of this kind 

 had for 30 years, flowered and borne fruit in a gai'den 

 of the Royal Academy at Berlin, but the fruit never ri- 

 pened, and when planted did not vegetate. There was 

 a male plant of the same kind, in a garden at Lcipsic, 

 20 German miles from Berlin, from thence a branch of 

 the flowers was procured, and suspended over the tree 

 at Berlin, the experiment produced ripe fruit, next year 

 it was repeated, and the palm tree produced above 2000 

 ripe fruit. The fruit vegetated, and produced young 

 palm trees. — See Hunter'' s Georgiral Essays, YorJx Edi- 

 firm, pa^e 432. 



