THE NEW AGRICULTURE. 163 



ting and poisoning the air with its foulness which we are obliged 

 to breathe. Thus we have malaria as it is called. This without doubt 

 conies from decaying vegetable matter, whether it be from sewers, 

 streets, swamps, or from our own vegetable stores, laid away for 

 winter use. The custom of spreading fresh manure over our lands 

 to rot and ferment, throwing off noxious gasses, is another fruitful 

 cause of malaria. 



Fungi its action on vegetation. 



While I have divided the subject into three heads for the better 

 handling of it, yet are they so closely allied in their effects one 

 upon the other, as to admit of really very little difference. Under 

 this last head, we come to a field exceedingly vast, and one over 

 which, at the best, can take but a cursory glance. Even had I the 

 time to devote to it, I fear it to be too great in extent to go into it 

 in detail. That it is a field abounding in speculation, yet fraught 

 with vast importance no one can deny. It is of so much import- 

 ance as to cause me to hesitate at beginning, as to whether I had 

 not better put it first in order, instead of last, Under this will be 

 found the fountain head of all the trouble. 



The dry rot has destroyed, without doubt, many thousands of 

 dollars worth of valuable timber. We know that in turning the 

 soil, we frequently find a stringy, gummy mass of fungi, that runs 

 its tentacle like arms in every direction like those of the cuttle fish. 

 This it has been proved interferes sadly with the growth of plants, 

 grasses and trees. Almost all of the cereals and grasses suffer 

 from fungi in some shape. Rust, smut, mildew and caries are 

 nearly always present. 



Now is there any remedy ? Is there any way to prevent this 

 constant promotion, production, and spread of disease bearing 

 fungi ? 



You may remember, in the last of June, 1883, while I was in 



