202 Mr. W. Jones on the Mildew in Wheat. 



has set in after rain or mist, sufficient to wet the blossom of apple trees, and to 

 destroy it ? This occured in the spring of 1804, when those mists prevailed in this 

 district in the vales, where the prospect of apples was totally lost, though a plenti- 

 ful crop in the high lands. 



That there should be some degree of frost in the month of August, though not 

 so severe as in May, being nearly equidistant from the summer solstice, is not ex- 

 traordinary ; besides the hoary appearance on the grass is frequently to be seen 

 before the sun rises in the beginning of August ; and a thermometer placed near 

 the ground in the nigbt, in one of these cold chilling dews, would satisfy any 

 doubts, if the degree it was reduced to was remarked before the sun rose. 



It was a common observation, that mists prevailed in the vales the latter end of 

 July and the beginning of August 1804, which occasioned the mildew in wheat» 

 reducing the promising expectation of a crop of more than twenty bushels per acre 

 to the average of eight bushels, and that of a bad quality, in lands worth from 

 25J. to 455, per acre, when the high lands, worth from 8s. to 20s. per acre pro- 

 duced more than double that quantity, and of a superior quality : also, this cir- 

 cumstance was not confined to a small circle, but extended to a neighbouring 

 county, where I saw on high mountainous situation, lands, newly reclaimed, not 

 worth more than 5s. per acre, produced crops of wheat full sixteen bushels per acre, 

 ■without a spot of mildew to be seen in it, when the rich lands in the vale below 

 exhibited the sad effects of it. 



That mildew is sure to affect the late sown wheat, is too well known to stand m 

 need of examples. The reason to me is obvious ; because it is in a green state 

 in the beginning of August, and more subject to the effects of frost in that month j 

 for the greater length of time the wheat has to get to maturity after the summer 

 solstice, the longer does the sun retire below our horizon, and the longer and 

 colder must the nights be ; for who can remember, or has heard of damage by 

 mildew, when wheat was ripe by themilddle or latter end of July ? 



It is perfectly within my recollection, that about twenty-five years ago, a great 

 part of the wheat in this parish was reaped before the 20th July, and I have heard 

 some old farmers say, that some years -before, they had usually carried all their 

 wheat by the end of July ; and another, that he once finished carrying all his 

 wheat (upwards of 30 acres) on the 25th July. Anoihtr account fiom a respect- 

 able quarter, I liave heard, that about seventy years ago, cakes were made and sold 



