fTeteracism. 51 
In 1804, this country suffered severely from an outbreak 
of wheat mildew, in consequence of which Mr. Arthur 
Young, the Secretary to the Board of Agriculture, issued a 
circular of questions, so as to obtain a consensus of opinion, 
from farmers, landowners, and others interested in the sub- 
ject, as to various points connected with causation of mildew. 
The ninth question ran thus: “ Have you made any 
observation on the barberry as locally affecting wheat?” 
The replies to these questions were published,* and from 
them the following are selected :— 
Isaac King, Esq., Wycombe, Bucks, in answer to the 
question about the barberry, says, “In 1795, a field of 
about twenty acres had two large barberry bushes growing 
within twenty yards of it. These appeared to be the focus 
of destruction to several acres ; in front, close to the hedge, 
the wheat was as black as ink, and further off it was affected 
to a less degree. ... In short, I had fifteen acres very good, 
and five of very little value. You may conclude the bar- 
berries were destroyed.” 
Mr. S. Johnson, Thurning, Norfolk, says,t “My ob- 
servations on the barberry have been for several years. I 
have seen the blast from a small stem blown on the wheat 
in one direction upwards of two furlongs, like smoke from 
a chimney.” 
__ Mr. W. Maxey, Knotting, Bucks, says,t “When pass- 
ing a wheat-field a few years ago on the eve of harvest, 
I noticed some streaks of a different darker hue across a 
furlong of wheat from the hedge directly opposite ; at the 
end of each streak was a barberry bush.” 
__. Mr. James Sheppard, Chippendale, Newmarket, says,§ 
“T have never seen an instance of wheat growing near a 
barberry not being injured more or less.” 
* A, Young, ‘‘ Annals of Agriculture” (1805), vol. xliii. p. 457. 
+ Marshall, Joc. céz., p. 469. 
$ Loc. cit., p. 505. § Loe. cit., p. 510. 
