[ 422 ] 



On the Disease in JVheat, mentioned in the Agricultural 

 Memoir Sy vol, 1. By James Mease ^ M, D. 



Read, June 14, 1814. 



In the first volume of the Memoirs of our society, 

 p. 124, &c. two letters were published on a new disease 

 in wheat, that within the last seven years has appeared 

 in the state of Maryland, near Elkton ; and I am very 

 sorry to learn that it not only continues, but appears 

 to increase. Some roots of this diseased wheat have 

 been sent to me, by John R. Evans, Esq. of Elkton, 

 within a few weeks, in which however no insect, or any 

 other cause is discoverable either by the naked eye or 

 glasses, to which the stinted appearance of the wheat 

 can be justly attributed. The leaves of the stalks sent 

 are not more than two inches and a half in length, and 

 many of them are dead : in several roots no more than 

 six leaves are green. In a letter accompanying these 

 roots Mr. Evans says, ** in those parts of the field that 

 show the disease in March, the wheat dries up, and 

 leaves the ground at this season (May 4th,) quite bare, 

 but if attacked in April, will remain on the ground until 

 the healthy wheat ripens, and is cut, without any appa- 

 rent change from the branches I now send you ; if the 

 attack is later, say about the 10th of May, it will some- 

 times make stalks about a foot long, with very short 

 heads without wheat, or very few grains in them. 



" I have looked in vain for the cause ; and especially 

 for insects, for five years past, and have tried a num- 

 ber of preparations of the land without effect, and last 

 year I limed the ground before my spring crop, on 



