62. On Smut iu Wheats 



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shewn two years since, by Job Roberts of MontgomerJ.^ 

 county, Pennsylvania: a fine field of wheat, which fully 

 proved the utility of steeping the seed in simple salt 

 and water. For the sake of experiment he sowed a 

 strip in the middle of the field, with dry unsteeped seed 

 and the backwardness and want of vigour in that por- 

 tion, when compared with the rest of the field was so 

 apparent, as to call forth a remark from me. He in- 

 formed me, that several of his neighbours had tried the^ 

 same steep, and w^ere so convinced of its utility, as to 

 induce them to continue the practice. f 



These facts are sufficient in my opinion, to prove the- 

 benefit derived from steeping seed grain in various 

 liquids : some caution how^ever is to be observed in the 

 process; according to Mr. Somerville, " while the grain; 

 steeped in the pickle continues in a moist state, it may 

 be kept for any length of time without much injurv^, but 

 wheat which has undergone this preparation, and has 

 had lime in a very active state mixed with it, if sown 

 early in autumn upon warm dry land, and no rain falls 

 for a considerable time, a great proportion of the grain 

 •will be either entirely destroyed, or materially injured.*' 



Mr. WagstafTe found that soaking and rinsing the 

 grain in simple water, was effectual in the prevention of 



whiting will therefore he thinks answer equally well, without 

 the risk attendant upon the use of lime. 



\ Stale Urine is sometimes employed as a pickle for seed 

 grain, but it requires so many circumstances to concur in or- 

 der to its being used with safety, that it should be avoided upon 

 all oecasioris; 



