137 



Diseases of millet. 



Millet is subject to the attack of fungous plants, like rye and other cereals. The smut 

 of millet, inasmuch as it is rarely cultivated, has never fallen under my own observation. 

 It is, however, described by Corda as affecting the whole panicle or head, the original 

 implantation of the fungus taking possession of the whole while invested in the leaf-sheath. 

 The spores are oval, globular, and olive brown. As the whole panicle is infested, and 

 becomes thereby a prominent object, it is easy to destroy or remove the fungus from the 

 field, by removing the infected individuals and burning them ; for if suffered to remain in 

 the field, it will propagate itself for a long time afterwards. 



For illustrations of the millet smut, see PI. LVII, fig. 3-7, Uredo destruens. Fig. 3, 

 immature brand or smut ; 4, mature, and shedding its spores ; 5, single fibres, natural 

 size ; 6, magnified : a, cells of the inner bark ; b, spiral vessels of the woody bundles ; 

 7, spores strongly magnified. 



V. WHEAT. 



It is unnecessary to speak of the importance of this grain : its value is appreciated by 

 community ; yet in saying this, we doubt much whether the influence of its culture and 

 use is fully felt by a large portion of society. The doubt is expressed, from the belief that 

 it has had no inconsiderable share of influence on the progress of civilization. It is the 

 food of civilized man. It is the bread of refinement and taste. The loaf of the Genesee 

 flour is the extreme luxury of polished life ; while the hoecake of indian corn, baked in 

 ashes, is the symbol of savage fare. The former has become the standard food of the 

 wealthy ; while the latter finds its place on his table, rather as a curiosity than one of 

 common resort. 



The culture of wheat, too, is a civilized act : it is almost incompatible with savage life. 

 A perfect crop requires the exercise of the highest skill of the husbandman's art : it is the 

 ne plus ultra of agriculture. It is true, that thousands of acres wave their heads to the 

 breeze in the west, under the management and culture of ignorance it may be ; but it is 

 in a virgin soil, which nature has made, and whose elements are mixed in right proportions 

 to bring forth the crop. But soon this power fails, and, with its failure, the plant is a 

 profitless product, until knowledge and art restore it to its standard value. 



In the present state of society, the place of wheat could not be compensated by either 

 of the other cereals. None of them are really fitted for use alone ; while wheat is so con- 

 stituted, that a mixture of the flour of any other grain is not required either for bread or 

 pastry : it is fit in itself for the purposes for which bread, in its widest meaning, is required. 

 [Agricultural Report — Vol. ii.] 18 



