86 MICROSCOPIC FUNGI. 



remarks inspired no sucli alarm in the districts of 

 our experience^ but in some seasons and localities 

 it is certainly one of the ^^ pests of the farm/^ 

 Under the different appellations of ^^ bunt/^ '^ pepper 

 brand^^^ '^ bladder brand^^^ and sometimes ^^ smut,^'' 

 this infection is very generally known. Externally 

 there is no appearance^ except to the practised eye^ 

 that anything is wrong. There is no black impal- 

 pable dust about the ears as in the true ^^ smut^^^ 

 no red withered leaves or spotted stem as in the 

 ^^rust^^ and ^^ mildew^ "'^ and no stunted growth or 

 malformation^ evident to the casual glance^ by which 

 the insidious foe can be recognized; but stealthily 

 and secretly the work is accomplished^ and until 

 the ^^ bunted^^ grains make their appearance in the 

 sample^ the disease may^ perchance^ be unchal- 

 lenged. 



Externally the ^^ bunted '''' grain is plumper^ and 

 whilst the corn is still green these will be of a brighter 

 green than the rest (plate Y. fig. 84) . When broken^ 

 the farinaceous interior will be found replaced by a 

 minute black dust of a very foetid^ unpleasant odour^ 

 and greasy to the touch (fig. 85). This powder 

 constitutes the spores of the ^^ bunt^'' mixed with 

 myceloid threads. It may happen that much of 

 the corn in a field is ^^ bunted^^-^ and the discovery 

 not made till the wheat is being ground for flour ; 

 then the odour and colour will speedily decide the 

 produce to be unfit for human food. We have not 

 the least doubt that ^^bunted^^ corn^ when ground 



