Cliap. XV. D I S T E M P E R S O F C O R N. 79 



" The experiment was eafy to be tried. It was only plucking ofF 

 " all the blades dole to the earth ; which accordingly I did on the 

 ** 28th of September, from one half of my plants. 



" New blades began to grow in a few days after this operation. 

 " The plants throve greatly, and before the beginning of winter, 

 " were again in full vigour. In the fpring, they branched abun- 

 " dantly, and produced large ears, which ripened kindly. 



" The ru/l continued its havock on the plants which I had 

 " not ftripped of their blades, till they were entirely killed. They 

 *' did not produce a fingle ear. 



" This remedy can only take place when the diftemper happen-s 

 " in the autumn or fpring: but if it happens later, when the ftems 

 ** are grown, and the ears are ready to break forth, it feems to 

 *' me then incurable. 



" I hjve often obferved, that the corn which is fown very early 

 " is more fubjedl to this diftemper than what is fown later. 



" If we were acquainted with the caufes of this r;//?, it might 

 " be more eafily prevented. In order to acquire this knowledge, 

 *' the lovers of hufbandry fhould colleft every obfervation they make 

 •* on this diftemper, whence fome ufeful hints may arife. 



" I obferved, that when the wheat was rufted in the autumn of 

 ** the years 1753 and 1754, the fecond crop of hay was fo too. 

 '* The grafs turned, from a beautiful green, to that rufty colour 

 ♦' which the corn had : it was covered with the fame kind of pow- 

 " der, and diminifhed fenfibly every day; and, as the v/hole of a 

 " field of wheat is not, ufually, affefted at the fame time, fo it 

 " extended only to fome parts of the meadow. 



" This diftemper in grafs, is undoubtedly owing to the fame caufe 

 *' as it is in corn, tho' its efFedls are different on each. It entirely 

 " deftroys annual plants, as in my experiment ; but in grafs, which 

 " is a lafting plant, it deftroys only the leaves, and the roots after- 

 ** wards produce new blades ; or perhaps the plants are preferved, 

 " by the blades being taken off" in cutting them for hay. This 

 " is only conjeifture : but as it is a matter of importance, I fhall 

 *' be more careful in my future obfervations. 



" It is well known that bread made of rye which has been at-J 

 " tacked by the diftemper called ergot, is unhealthy, and caufes 

 " very troublefome difeafes. — Is there not fome reafon to fear the 

 ** fame bad effects from feeding cattle with fodder which has been 

 " ruftedt May not thi^ be the caufe of deadly dilbrders which 



" fome- 



