THE NEW AGRICULTURE. 151 



ation, it matters not. The animals do not notice it, or if they do, 

 they can not remonstrate. But here let me ask, are the people not 

 being surely punished ? I think the reply to this would be unan- 

 imously affirmative were we able to follow the effect that the ma- 

 nures from these animals have on the food cereals brought to fru- 

 ition through its use. Not only the human family is suffering from 

 this terrible condition and neglect of our soil, thus producing 

 fungi, but our stock animals are suffering in an equally bad way. 

 The grasses that they feed from in our pastures, and the hay made 

 from same and stored for winter use, if examined under a micro- 

 scope, will be found to be extensively covered with fungi. This 

 bears various titles, such as smut, rust, or mildew, or other names 

 applied in different localities. Corn, in many sections, is sowed for 

 fodder, and this, upon examination, will be found to be in the same 

 condition. In this connection I would refer to the recent develop- 

 ments in Texas, where cattle were suffering with what a number of 

 authorities pronounced contagious pleuro-pneumonia; but upon 

 investigation, were found to be in a diseased condition, from eating 

 of corn that was extensively smutted. Oats with their rust, wheat 

 and rye with their ergot and other diseases, all these different pro- 

 ductions are alike affected. 



Our writers on the subject of stock, refer frequently to (so-called) 

 contagious pleuro-pneumonia. Cows kept for their milk for sup- 

 plying our large cities and towns, are nearly all fed with this 

 mass of poison, and kept in badly ventilated stables, shut up 

 and excluded from the air. Congress and our legislatures pass 

 laws and appoint commissioners to examine into and destroy all 

 stock affected, to prevent the spread of the contagion. They 

 never for one moment think of examining the farms and stables, 

 and the feed of the animal. In my investigations in the vicinity 

 of Philadelphia, into "contagious pleuro pneumonia" (so-called,) 



