26 On Smut in IfheaU 



acid, or any other substance, to the seed, previously to 

 sowing, after a lapse of eight or nine months from the 

 time of its being sown, except we admit that part of the 

 acid remains in the seed, and enters into the circulating 

 juices or sap of the plant the succeeding season, an idea I 

 do not think very probable ; however, be this as it may, 

 the remedy appears certain, and we must leave theory 

 for practice or known facts. 



I am, with sentiments of respect, 

 Thy friend, 



George Abbott. 

 S. W, Conrad. 



[Mr. Abbotfs communication is a valuable addition 

 to the many proofs of the efficacy of steeps^ and other 

 modes of guarding against the maladies of seed grain. 

 The oil of vitriol is no doubt competent to the purpose. 

 From SirJjio, Sinclair's account of the benefits derived from 

 the Flemish receipt, composed of the solution qI copperas^ 

 it is equally effectual. Barely washing in pure water has 

 answered well in some instances ; but it is certainly best 

 to use more powerful remedies. The difficulty is, to 

 prevail on the great body of our farmers to do any thing 

 out of their common routine. Most of what has been 

 written on smiit^ at least enough to give information to 

 those who have a desire to profit by it, will be found in 

 our 1st volume, page 47, and seq. : Mr. Young^s com- 

 munication. Page 65, a paper by Dr. FothergilL Ap- 

 pendix to volume I, page 1 ; and see also Dr. Mease's 

 remarks on Mr. Young's paper, same volume, page 54. 

 And in the Bath Papers, volume xiv, article 3d, will be 

 found a valuable paper on this and other diseases of 

 wheat, A curious fact of the efficacy of pure water in 

 preventing injuries from smut^ is mentioned by Mr. 

 Eckroydy volume I, pages S^^ 57.] 



R. P. 



