266 OF THE BLIGHT, ETC. 



of the seed of corn, called by the French Ergot, though 

 not well distinguished from other appearances by the 

 generality of our agricultural writers, is indubitably a 

 morbid swelling of the seed, and not in any way con- 

 nected with the growth of a fungus. The anthers of 

 certain, plants often exhibit a similar disease, swelling, 

 and producing an inordinate quantity of dark purplish 

 powder instead of true pollen, as happens in Silene 

 inftata, Fl. Brit. EngL Bot. t. 164, and the white 

 Lychnis dioica, t. 1580, whose petals are, not uncom- 

 monly, stained all over with this powder. Our know- 

 ledge on all these subjects is yet in its infancy ; but it 

 is to be hoped, now the pursuit of agriculture and of 

 philosophical botany begin to be, in some distinguished 

 instances, united, such examples will be followed, and 

 science directed to one of its best ends, that of im- 

 proving useful arts. And here I cannot but mention 

 the experiments continually going on under the inspec- 

 tion of the ingenious Mr. Knight, of fertilizing the 

 germen of one species or variety with the pollen of 

 another nearly akin, as in apples, garden peas, &c., by 

 which, judiciously managed, the advantages of different 

 kinds are combined. By the same means Linnaeus 

 obtained intermediate species or varieties of several 

 plants; and if anything were wanting to confirm his 

 theory respecting the stamens and pistils, this alone 

 would place it out of all uncertainty. 



