56 Of the various Accidents, S$c. 



too severely on the tender vessels of the plants, weakening them to 

 such a degree that they require weeks to recover. 



11. Blights. Plants are sometimes injured by atmospherical in* 

 fluence, or by means of blights, as they are called. These sometimes 

 arise from the unequal distribution of the electric fluid, or from light- 

 ning, which frequently kills the plants, injures their health, or prevents 

 their filling. The effects may be observed by the blackish spots and 

 patches in fields of wheat, sometimes in a zig-zag direction, where the 

 stalks have little or no grain in the ears. In the spring season, af- 

 ter a warm and dry wind, there is sometimes a blight of a different 

 sort, arising from an excessive perspiration, which enfeebles the plants, 

 more especially if the wind is easterly, and it either destroys them, 

 or checks their growth. It may also be occasioned by strong winds 

 injuring the grain, when it is in flower, so as to prevent the impreg- 

 nation of the pollen ; or when the wind shakes the plant so much, 

 as to injure the culms, or loosen the roots, when the grain is in an 

 imperfect or milky state, so that its maturation is prevented. But as 

 these evils proceed from causes over which human control does not 

 extend, it is unnecessary to enlarge on the subject. 



12. Birds and Quadrupeds. Crops in every stage of their growth 

 are exposed to the depredations of the feathered tribe. Crows, 

 pigeons, sparrows, game, small birds, &c., not only pick up part of 

 the seed, when it is committed to the ground, but some of them, 

 are constantly nibbling at the grain, from the time it is formed, until 

 it is secured in the barn-yard. Even when that is effected, mice and 

 rats continue their depredations, after the grain has been lodged in 

 the granary. 



13. The Weevil. After the grain has been converted into flour, 

 the voracious weevil attacks it in the barrels in which it has been 

 carefully deposited, and frequently accomplishes its destruction *. 



All these circumstances prove, 1. On how precarious a footing the 

 profits of farmers are placed ; and, 2. That the hazards to which those 

 crops are liable, on which our subsistence depends, are more nu- 

 merous, than, when the subject is first brought under our considera- 

 tion, could possibly be imagined. 



No. II. 



ON THE NATURE OF THE DISEASE, CALLED " THE SMUT" IN 

 WHEAT, AND THE MEANS OF PREVENTING IT. 



THIS disease, in French, is called " Le carie," and in botanical 

 language, " ustilago" It is a species of degeneracy of the grains in 

 the ears of wheat, by which the substance that should form flour in 

 the grain, becomes entirely changed into a black powder, similar to a 

 puff ball, or dusty mushroom, (lycoperdon gldbosum.) Wheat af- 

 fected with this disease, when mixed with seed in a sound state, di- 

 minishes its value, imparts a dark colour to the flour, and is said by 



* It is said on the Continent, that the smell of hops destroys the weevil. 

 Tar should also be tried. 



