KEMEDJi:S. 79 



for examyjle, the liquid excrements of animals, 

 have been adopted for remedies. Some persons 

 employ brine, sulphate of copper, arsenic, and 

 other things not possessing alkaline qualities. 

 Whenever these methods succeed it cannot be 

 for the reasons advanced, but it may happen 

 that they destroy the vegetative powers of the 

 fungi, though they still remain fixed to the 

 grain. It would be well to follow the advice 

 given by professor Henslow, and to institute a 

 set of experiments on these points. They are 

 curious and interesting questions ; and indeed 

 many things relating to these fungi still require 

 minute and accurate investigation. It is un- 

 questionable, however, that a good dressing of 

 an alkaline ley thoroughly applied, completely 

 arrests the evil. Whatever may be the views of 

 some as to the value of sulphate of copper, it 

 is obvious that the application of arsenic is 

 undesirable, and indeed improper, from the 

 dangers attendant on the use of so violent a 

 poison. Nor are such things necessary, on 

 account of the efficacy of the dressings upon the 

 principle before mentioned. Indeed, in the 

 fields of careful farmers, bunt has happily 

 become rare. 



It is difficult to apply tlic same precaution 



