'^ AGRICULTURAL ESSAYS. 



low that ^ram m that condition should be immediately cut 

 because after that operation is performed it isST^rp!,/^ ^ 

 ure necessarily deprived of every benefit from th^ peatmeas- 

 both of whichjav^ greater .nr^u'enc^^fn^^fn"^^^^^^ ^^^ 

 ty, so long as It remains on foot, than when cut down «Tf^ 

 laid on the ground or bound up in she^^^i es ThT^' . ^^^^'^ 

 weather at the time aUo deserves notice for il mo f ""^'^'^ 

 variable weather -.., ki,a o"gTa^n?wht' ^pTet^^^^^^^^^ 

 IS more exposed to damage than when completely ripS^' 



.f ^l^^fu'^^ Z^ Wheat. Since the last essay on the culture 

 of wheat has been prepared for the press, the following inter- 

 estmg remarks on the diseases of wheLt, which have been 

 H^vf/"^'" ^i^^'f^^ '^ '^"^ agricultural Encyclopedia,Tis be 



r.io'^V'fin^.''"^'?'^"''"^' ^^^" ^^J^^n ^or granted by some peo- 

 ple, that bhght, mildevv, and lust, are the sime disorder Though 

 most agriculturalists have hitherto reckoned them separate 

 diseases biought on at different periods, and occT.norrd by 



that the proximate cause of every disease which attacks thl 

 Stock and ear of wheat plants, may be foundln the s ate ofthe 

 weather at the time, conjoined wfth the circumstLces of so l! 

 situation and the seed that has been used. It is difficult o 

 cUsmry these diseases, or describe them in a distinct manner ; 

 because the sentiments, or rather the language of agricultural- 

 • .? l^u ^""^^^""h IS arbitrary and indistinct. Notwithstand- 

 ing that they are by the great body of the farmers, attributed 

 to atmospherical mfluence solely, yet much confusion arises in 

 their nomenclature ; for many people use the terms bhght, mil- 

 i'sd^ct diseases! '^""^^"^""^' ^^^"^^ ^^ "« they appear to be 

 "Blight according to our ideas, originates from moist or fog- 

 gy weather and from hoar frost, the effects of which when ex- 

 pelled by a hot sun, are first discernible on he straw, and af- 

 terwards on the ear, in a greater or less dejrree, according to 

 the local circumstances. Let the field be ^examined in a day 

 ''^ T fl^r ^"ch,,^'eather, and a careful observer will soon be 

 satisfiedthat the fibres and leaves of the plants are contracted, 

 and enfeebled m consequence ofwhat may be called a stoppage 

 of perspiration. This disorder may take place either earlier or 

 ia.er, but is niost fatal when it appears at the time it is forming 

 m the ear. It may appear at an earUqr sta^e; aud thougS 



