182 HOW TO GROW GOOD CORN. 



2. Uredo caries — Bunt, Pepper-brand, Smut-balls. 

 — This blight differs from the preceding in the fact 

 that in the grain no flower is formed, but its interior 

 becomes filled with a dark powder, which, when 

 viewed under a high magnifying power, is found to 

 consist of granules, with a surface which is rough, and 

 not smooth as in the dust-brand. 



In most cases, the whole grains of the ear will be so 

 affected ; in others, only a portion of them. They will 

 be gathered in the harvest, and as the diseased grain is 

 readily crushed, the black powder materially damages 

 the appearance of the sample. Nor is this all : this 

 blight has a most disagreeable odour and flavour, 

 both of which are communicated to the sample, and 

 so, besides diminishing the amount of produce, it 

 greatly deteriorates it. Its specific name of caries 

 of course refers to this fact, as also does that of 

 77. fcetida, adopted by Baur, an author to whom 

 we are greatly indebted for information upon these 

 curious productions. 



Before considering the remedy for this evil, it will 

 be well to distinguish it from the "purples, ear- 

 cockle, or peppercorn" {vibrio tritici) — a name expres- 

 sive of its animal origin, and frequently rendered 

 "wheat-eels." In the purples, the grain is shorter 

 than a healthy wheat grain, irregular in shape 

 (cockled), and purple externally ; but its interior is 

 filled with what, to the naked eye, is like very short 

 white cotton-wool. On placing a bit of this woolly 

 substance with the point of a needle on a slip of 

 glass, just touching it with water and submitting it 

 to a high magnifying power, the term "wheat-eel" 

 will at once be seen to be justified; for, if alive, 



