ON THE RUST, &C. IN WHEAT. 157 



be supported without a due supply of food; and 

 that with those, as with animals, the quality and 

 quantity of food must possess an equal influence. 



Every man is aware, that the quality of the 

 food he consumes, is equally as determined in its 

 effects, as the quantity ; and such, no doubt, is 

 tlie case with plants, as before observed. When 

 an animal is constrained to live on meagre, im- , 

 pure food, it is induced to consume a greater quan- 

 tity, to make up as much as possible for the 

 deficiency of quality ; and the consequence is, a 

 distension of the stomach and bowels. And this 

 is often followed by a poverty and corruption of 

 the fluids, which produces disease and debility ; 

 and the body is wasted by eruptions, and becomes 

 a prey to vermin. And when an animal (more par- 

 ticularly during parturition) is glutted with gross 

 and rich food, a surfeit is the consequence j and it 

 is subjected to a stagnation of the fluids, inflam- 

 mations, and eruptions; which often end in mor- 

 tification and death : and plants, under the same 

 circumstances, are subject to the same conse- 

 quences. 



These observations will be found correctly to 

 apply to, and to afford a clear exemplification of, 

 the rust, or black blight, in wheat. 



On this subject. Sir John Sinclair says, *' It 

 ** appears, from an able paper written by a dis- 



