XVI PKOCEEDINGS, JULY. 



hand, and not injured, and I have come to the conclusion that smut ia 

 the result of defective rooting of these damaged grains, and if my con- 

 tention proves correct an enormous saving can be effected by introducing 

 machines coated v^ith gutta percha, including loss of time, cost of blue- 

 stone, and destruction of wheat would amount to a saving of fully 3s. per 

 acre, but there are other causes of smut quite beyond the control of man, 

 another strong proof that I am correct, and that is atmospheric influence ; 

 for instance, the past season was most prolific in smut, and in every case 

 I found it was upon the high lands, it being too dry to allow the roots 

 to penetrate to a sufficient depth to mature the grain. I found during 

 the last season heads one half smut the other half perfect wheat, and in 

 one case one grain half smut and the other half contained flour, and in 

 all cases the upper half is the smut. Again, in the very wet season 

 smut may be found, but it will be found in the low and wet portions of 

 the field, the root having been injured through too much moisture. Our 

 grasses of ben prove smutty, but it is only the annual variety that can be 

 found smutty. The perennial plant has established the roots to a 

 sufiicient depth to mature. I have read, from time to time, the theory 

 that smut is caused by infection in the stack, and, giving as a proof that 

 self-sown or shook wheat is never found smutty. The truth is that this 

 self-sown grain is not subject to injury in threshing, and will support 

 my experience with reference to infection. I have, upon several occasions 

 coated wheat that I had carefully rubbed out of the head with smut 

 dust, but have never produced a smut head from sound grain. I hope 

 the tests explained have had the eflect I desire of interesting you in a 

 problem that has hitherto baffled all attempts to solve. To permit some 

 tests to be carried out in your gardens under your manager, I will 

 undertake to supply seed prepared in various forms for the test and 

 numbered. I am sure the tests would be interesting. Again apologising, 

 gentlemen, for bringing under your Society what very properly should 

 have been a farmers' subject to deal with. — I am, etc., 



JOSEPH BAR WICK. 



The Secretary intimated that the suggestions would be laid before the 

 Trustees of the Museum and Botanical Gardens. 



The President, in moving the usual vote of thanks to the contributors 

 of papers, expressed the hope that something would be done to meet Mr. 

 Barwick's suggestions. 



