4o6 Mr. V,'. Jones on the Mildew in Wheat. 



sively, and found the experiment in favour of the latter, before the mildew had 

 penetrated to the inside of the stalk, but no difference in the more advanced state 

 of the injury ; and though there was some extra trouble in cutting off the roots be- 

 fore it was carried, yet I think it would be repaid by the superior quality of the 

 grain, in cases where there was a necessity of cutting it very green, arising from the 

 apprehension of the disease making a rapid progress. The result of this, as well 

 -as former experience, convinces me, that it would be best to let it stand till the 

 grain becomes so solid as to admit none of the milky juice to be squeezed from it, 

 provided the mildew has not penetrated through the stalk; but if it has so pene- 

 trated, it will be of no sort of use to let it stand longer, although some of ihat 

 milky juice should be in some of the grains; for though such will not arrive to a 

 full size as others, yet that as well as the rest will receive far greater injury by 

 standing exposed to the rays of the sun (without deriving any benefit from the 

 roots) than if it were cut ; because the following management, by drying it without 

 being exposed to the sun, will be so gradual, that this milky juice may in some 

 degree be converted into the farinaceous part of the grain, that might otherwise be 

 exhaled by the rays of the sun, which equally affects it after it is cut, if exposed to 

 its influence, as when standing, as I have found by rubbing out some grains of the 

 ears so exposed, and comparing them with others that were taken from the middle 

 of the sheaf that had been more screened, which led me to think whether, by letting 

 it remain on the ground like barley, to receive the dews, would not prevent its 

 drying too fast; by this experiment I found the under part, where it happened to 

 be thickest, was the largest and best grain -, which led me to think of a method of 

 Cffvering all the ears, by laying the sheaves longitudinally on the ridge (after the 

 reaper), covering the ears of the first sheaf with the second, the second with the 

 third, and so on, so that the ears of the last sheaf only was uncovered; the third 

 day after it was turned on the adjoining ridge, reversing the order of its lying, taking 

 care that the side of the sheaf that had been under should be uppermost; and in 

 three days more it was stacked up in the usual way to be made sufficiently dry to 

 be carried. By this management a Winchester bushel weighed 58 lb. whereas some 

 of the wheat in the same field, cut at the same time, and in no deg'Ce worse miU 

 dewed, weighed but 554. lbs. per bushel. Sume of the wheat in the same field, 

 being not in the Last degne injured by the mildew^ weighed Oilb.; and I shall 



