JUNE. 3Q7 



stanlly conveyed to the nib of the seed, are suc- 

 ceeded by a progeny which are the maggots in 

 question. These eggs may possibly retard the male 

 blossoms from completing their office, and prevent 

 their flying off, which they ought to "do when the 

 female blossoms become impregnated, and this may 

 be the reason why the maggots are always found 

 adhering to the male blossoms. 



Of the male blossom of wheat it* is to be re- 

 marked, that if by wind, or other accident, it be- 

 comes disunited from the ear, a succession of bloonf 

 still continues to supply its place, and this a second 

 or third time, which displays the wisdom and gobd- 

 ness of Providence, in thus securing to us this ne- 

 cessary part of our aliment from the variety of ac- 

 cidents to which it is liable in this critical period of 

 its vegetation ; and for this reason stormy weather 

 at the blooming season is not of such very fatal 

 consequence to the growing crops of wheat as 

 many people imagine. But in a wet or clouded 

 atmosphere, the danger is much greater ; for by 

 this density of the air, the chests are so intimately 

 closed as to prevent the male blossoms frbm escap- 

 ing out of the hose, and hence ensues a corruption 

 within the ear, which occasions, as hath been re- 

 marked, the evil mentioned. 



A mild and open \\ihtcr is by no means kindly 

 for the growing crops of whsat, not only from the 

 blade having from such weather been encouraged to 

 push forward with too much celerity, and thus be- 

 coming winter-proud, as before remarked ; but for 



another 



