549 



own and develop normally. Finally, however, the fungus wins, 

 completely destroying every grain in the ear and producing a 

 mass of spores wherewith to propagate itself next season. 



From reports furnished to the Ministry's Plant Disease Survey 

 Office it would appear that in 1919 Bunt was more prevalent 

 than usual, especially in the North and West Midlands. Parti- 

 cularly bad cases were also noted in Worcestershire and 



a and 6. Bunted ears, c. Bunted grail), containing black mass of bunt spores 

 (magnified about four times). 



Buckinghamshire; " Browick " was severely attacked in Here- 

 fordshire, " Victor" in Somerset and Devonshire, whilst " April 

 Bearded," so extensively grown in the late districts of the West 

 Midlands, Monmouth and South Wales, was very generally 

 badly bunted. 



Bunt may be prevented by " pickling " or treating the seed 

 with a fungicide. In most of the best wheat districts proper 

 pickling is regularly practised, and the crop, as a result, is clean. 

 Whore Bunt is present, inquiry has invariably shown that either 

 no treatment was given or, if given, ineffective substances were 



D 



