13 



belonging to Benjamin P. Ware, Esq., of Swampscott, from 

 which were obtained specimens for examination, was estimated 

 at $2,000. Mr. Taylor regards it probable that the blight and 

 smut are but different forms of the same species, which is 

 very tenacious of life, and develops so fast as to ruin a prom- 

 ising field in three or four days. Mr. Ware states that the 

 common custom of growing onions on the same land for several 

 successive years cannot be safely continued after the appear- 

 ance of this pest, as the spores will spring up the following 

 year. The conservators of the agricultural interests of the 

 Commonwealth certainly ought to encourage the study of 

 microscopic botany at the State College, and ask for special 

 investigations in regard to the habits and characteristics of so 

 formidable a foe to one of our most profitable crops. 



The mildew on the grape has been the cause of much annoy- 

 ance in this country, while in Europe it has inflicted an annual 

 loss of many millions of dollars in the wine districts, where 

 it has raged for many years. In Madeira, where the vine is 

 almost the only source of revenue, it has caused the greatest 

 distress, reducing the people to actual starvation, so that con- 

 tributions of food have been sent to keep them alive. Shower- 

 ing the infected foliage with dilute solutions of sulphide of 

 calcium or sulphurous acid, and dusting it with flowers of 

 sulphur, have proved tolerably effectual remedies ; but doubt- 

 less improvements are to be sought in this direction, and M. 

 Dumas recently proposed, in the French Academy of Sciences, 

 that the government offer a prize of $100,000 for a means of 

 entirely preventing the ravages of this destructive parasite. 



In Europe, wheat is often attacked by a disease called 

 pepper-brand, or bunt, which renders the grain disgusting in 

 odor and unfit for food. It has been found by botanists to be 

 caused by a fungus so minute that four million plants may 

 occupy a single kernel of tl^e grain. A similar disease, called 

 smut and dust-brand, affects oats and barley, often doing 

 great damage. It has been found very useful in preventing 

 the attacks of these fungi to soak the seed-grain, just before 

 sowing, in a solution of sulphate of soda ; then to mix the moist 

 grain with caustic lime, by which the plants or their spores are 

 destroyed, if present. 



Ergot is the distorted and diseased seed or grain of rye, and 



