408 



THE WHEAT CULTUKIST. 



of plants spring. The spores are borne along in 

 the wind, among the growing wheat; and wherever 

 the straw is not perfectly healthy, and able to resist the 

 attacks of such parasitic fungus, the seeds adhere to the 

 diseased leaves and stems, germinate, grow, and tend to 

 destroy the crop. 



There are many kinds of mildew and rust, which 

 originate from spores. Fig. 75 represents a magni- 

 fied view of a small portion of what is scientifically 

 called uredo rubigo vera, in which the spores are repre- 

 sented with a sort of basket-work extending from one 

 to another. 



SMUT IN WHEAT. 



The illustration herewith given (Fig. 76) represents 

 a magnified view of what is scientifically known as 



uredo caries, which is common 

 to wheat ; and seldom attacks 

 any other cereal plant. The 

 dark-colored excrescences rep- 

 resent the spores or seeds of 

 the uredo caries. Unlike other 

 maladies, this one takes its ori- 

 gin in the interior juices of the 

 wheat plant; and aifects the 

 kernels, instead of the straw. 

 The pericarp of the kernels of 

 wheat contains a black mate- 

 rial, greasy to the touch, in- 

 stead of flour. The dust of caries, unlike that of 

 smut, emits an unpleasant odor; and the nauseous 

 smell is sometimes perceived in wheat bread. The 

 semeniform grains of the caries (Fig. 76) attach them- 



Fio. 76. Smut magnified. 



