92 DISTEMPERS OF CORN. Parti. 



years, produced none but fmutty feed, though the root was perfedly 

 lound. h we llippole that the growth of plants in only an enlarge- 

 Tiieiit ot what was in miniature in the feed, we may conceive that 

 the blol]bni alone may be affe^3:ed. But let us keep to fafts, which 

 we'fliall always find of much more importance than mere conjecture?, 

 too often unfupported by any great probability of truth. 



M. Aimen agrees in opinion with thofe who think, that the 

 powder of fmutty grain will render found corn Ihiutty, if llrewed 

 upon it : but he does not think that the only caufe ; for it may hap- 

 pen that a year, in which there is a great deal of fmutty corn, may 

 be fucceeded by another in which there is fcarce any : or perhaps a 

 year quite free from fmut, may be followed by a year no lefs remark- 

 able for great abundance of imut. This infedtion cannot be the 

 caufe that wheat gathered off the fame ground, taken out of the 

 fame flieaf, and fowed without being prepared with any fleeps, fhall 

 in fome fields produce found wheat, and in others fmutty. 



This obfervation, and a perfuafion that other caufes may cori- 

 tribute to bring this diforder, as effedtually as the fmutty powder 

 does, induced M. Aim.en to try many experiments, from which he 

 draws the following conclufions : 



■•'•-il That the beft ripen'd and foundefl grains fhould be chofen for 

 feed. 



2. That the black powder certainly difpofes corn to become 

 fmutty. 



3. That the fmut is to be feared as often as the feed time is rainy. 

 This may be avoided by beginning to fow early. 



4. Whatever weakens the plant, brings the fmut ; for feed-corn 

 v^'hich has been pricked or run through with a needle, or which is 

 not fully ripe, and that which produces lateral or fecond ears, is 

 fubjedt to the fmut. As a proof that whatever weakens plants, 

 caufes the fmut, he obferves, that it is a frequent cuflom with 

 them to cut rye as foon as it fpindles, for food for their cattle ; 

 and that this rye generally produces other ears, which feldom con- 

 tain any but diftemper'd grain. 



Mr. Tull tells us that the cure of this difi;emper was firfl found 

 out by an accident, which he relates thus : 



" Brining of wheat, to cure or prevent fmuttinefs (as I have 

 " been credibly informed) was accidentally difcovered about feventy 

 ** years ago, in the following manner, viz. A fhip-load of wheat 

 •* was funk near Briflol, in autumn, and afterwards at ebbs all 



" taken 



