69 On Smut in Wheat. 



enough to swim an tgg^ stirring it frequently. Procure 

 first unslacked lime, and when you begin to let the 

 water off, slack your lime with a small quantity of it ; 

 when the water is completely drained off', turn the wheat 

 out of your tub, and to eveiy bushel of it allow a peck 

 of lime ; sprinkle this over it, and stir the whole ^^ith a 

 shovel till they are completely mixed, so as every grain 

 may receive a share. When dry it is ready for sow- 

 ing, but should the lime prove troublesome or dange- 

 rous to the seedsman's eyes, some more water may be 

 tllrQ^^Tl upon it, for Avhen the lime is dr\% the cure is 

 effected. If the wheat is meant to be drilled, sift the 

 lime upon it, in the first instance, and from it, after- 

 \\'ards. 



" The lime, I am persuaded, is the grand panacea, 

 and I only recommend salt water in preference to fresh, 

 because the lime adheres more closely to the grain, 

 when the former is used. The principal difficulty in 

 the process lies in the mixing of the wheat and lime 

 completelv, so as ever}' kernel of the wheat may receive 

 its due proportion of lime ; for unless this is carefully 

 attended to, danger will not be prevented ; every kernel 

 that escapes the lime, being liable to receive and pro- 

 pagate the disease. I once witnessed a case, which has 

 fixed me most firmly in the opinion, that fresh lime is 

 absolutely necessar}- to accomplish a cure. A very ex- 

 perienced and intelligent farmer having used all the 

 wheat he had prepared for seed, wanted a few bushels 

 to complete his sowing; and being at a considerable 

 distance from the kiln, determined to make use of some 

 old lime, which had been long in his possession. I exa- 

 mined the crop along with the owner, in the succeeding 



