212 
Farming of O.rfordsldre. 
is a good dressing of fresh-slaked lime. The moment the hot 
lime touches the slug he throws off his outer skin, and the next 
particle that reaches him destroys life. 
The blight, or, more properly, the mildew, is a parasitic fungus, 
which is known by producing black spots on the straw. The 
minute sporules, or seeds of the fungi, which float imperceptibly 
in the air, are supposed to be taken in by the stomata, or pores 
of the wheat plant, by which it imbibes moisture. These 
sporules germinate and live upon the juices that should bring 
the grain to maturity. They also prey upon the tissues of the 
plant, so that it will never properly ripen. Therefore it is a good 
plan to cut the wheat, however green, when it is seen to be so 
affected, and stop its further ravages. So far the commonly 
received theory and the experience of farmers agree. But how, 
it may be asked, does it happen that mildew is more prevalent 
on light lands than on claj's, and more frequently appears in 
changeable than in dry summers ? The pores of the wheat plant 
in bright and dry weather are in active exhalation ; in wet and 
gloomy seasons they inhale powerfully. But a continuation of 
damp weather does not often produce mildew ; and the sporules 
of the fungi are present in almost everything, and in any season, 
yet they do not germinate unless they find food suitable for 
them. The sporules of the mushroom do not vegetate unless 
placed in a substance congenial to their development. The ques- 
tion naturally arises, has not the root something to do with it ? 
When wheat is in ear, the roots have descended from 3 to 4 feet, 
and when the land is parched on the surface in a dry summer, 
the nourishment is mostly derived from these deep rootlets. By 
a long drought the covering of the capillary vessels becomes weak 
and elastic, and on a sudden glut of rain, the moisture is too 
eagerly taken up, and is propelled with extraordinary velocity 
through the plant. This produces exudation in the roots and an 
excess of watery matter in the plant, which causes the inhaled 
sporules of the fungi at once to vegetate. This will explain why 
light soils are more subject to mildew, and assign the reason for its 
appearing partial in the same field. Tlie subsoil may be diversified, 
though the surface appears even. The substratum that is reten- 
tive of moisture in long seasons of drought furnishes a supply of 
moisture to the wheat plant ; while the beds of gravel and sand 
being parched up cause the roots to seek more eagerly for mois- 
ture. If light soils be highly manured, the roots are taxed to a 
double extent to maintain the artificial luxuriance of the blade. 
When dry weather continues the roots remain healthy, and sup- 
port tlie plant to maturity ; but should deluges of rain set in, tlie 
sudden change is too much for the over-distended roots, and 
mildew is the consequence. The blight of 1852 probably resulted 
