78 On Smut in Wheat, 



not worse than the disease. — From the result of many 

 experiments, he also owns, that wheat washed with sim- 

 ple water, produced the greatest number of plants ; and 

 that with acid steeps, the smallest number. He con- 

 cludes with recommending the washing it with water, 

 and drying it with slacked lime. He makes no men- 

 tion of nitre (salt petre) yet as this, by a singular 

 accident, has been discovered to be an effectual pre- 

 ventive of the depredations committed by weevils, and 

 may be used with safety, we should incline to try it, 

 in preference to all the other artificial steeps. Likewise 

 gentle kiln drying, carefully regulated, as already hin- 

 ted; or exposure to a keen frost, as safer, and better than 

 the method proposed by Mr. Kirby, with slacked lime. 

 It may be proper, however, to try the difference be- 

 tween lime, slacked in water, and in air. In case of mil- 

 dew, or wheat moth where the very straw is infected, 

 and probably swarms with minute parasitical seeds, or 

 ova of the moth, or other destructive insects, the grain 

 should be speedily thrashed out, and may probably be 

 secured by the above method, which we have earnestly 

 recommended : still, however, as the straw may afford a 

 nidus for a future progeny ; it should therefore, be dis- 

 patched from the barn, as quickly as possible, to form 

 compost, and during the putrefactive process, well in- 

 corporated with quick lime ; the chaff and sweepings of 

 the barn, and the stubbles ought to be burnt upon the 

 ground, which may enrich not only the soil, but tend 

 to extii-pate the evil ; towards which important purpose, 

 all farmers ought cordially to unite, otherwise a single 

 neglect of the means proposed, may renew the calami- 

 ty, and propagate it to the adjacent fai'ms. 



