76 MICROSCOPIC FUNGI. 



CHAPTER VI. 



SMUTS. 



ONE of the fungal diseases of corn long and 

 widely known has obtained amongst agri- 

 culturists different appellations in different lo- 

 calities. In some it is the ^^ smut/^ in others it is 

 respectively ^^ dust-brand/^ ^^ bunt-ear/^ ^^ black- 

 ball^^^ and ^^ chimney-sweeper/^ all referring^ more 

 or less^ to the blackish soot-like dust with which 

 the infected and abortive ears are covered. This 

 fungus does not generally excite so much concern 

 amongst farmers as the other affections to which 

 their corn-crops are liable. Perhaps it is not really 

 so extensively injurious^ although it entirely destroys 

 every ear of corn upon which it establishes itself. 

 Wheats barley^ oats^ rye^ and many grasses are 

 subject to its attacks^ and farmers have been heard 

 to declare that they like to see a little of it^ because 

 its presence proves the general excellence of the 

 whole crop. No one who has passed through a field 

 of standing corn^ after its greenness has passed 

 away^ but before it is fully ripe^ can have failed to 

 notice^ here and there^ a spare^ lean-looking ear, 

 completely blackened with a coating of minute dust 

 (plate Vc fig. 98) . If he has been guilty of brushing 

 in amongst the corn, it will still be remembered how 



