414) Tlie Propagation and Prevention of Smut. 
employed in replenishing tlie boiler. The requisite temperature 
(132°r.)of vessels Nos. 1 and 2 must be maintained throughout 
the process by adding from time to time boiling water from 
the boiler and transferring from them a similar amount back 
again to the boiler. The temperature must be regulated by 
a thermometer, which when used must be plunged deeply into 
the water. 
The basket must be completely immersed each time, then 
lifted quite out of the water so as to allow it to drain for four or 
five seconds before it is dipped again. 
The above process in practice will be found simple and easy 
enough to perform, although its description is necessarily some- 
what complicated. 
D. Prevention of Bunt. 
With bunt, so much more virulent is the power of infec- 
tion, that annual dressing of the seed-corn is necessary, and this 
appears to be the custom amongst farmers of all nations. I 
have made a number of experiments with bunt as well as with the 
smut of rye (JJrocystis occulta). These are now so far complete 
as to enable me to affirm that dipping the seed-corn in water 
of 127° F. for five minutes will efiectually prevent both these 
diseases. No previous steeping of the corn being necessary, 
there is no danger in employing as high a temperature as 
133° F. This, however, is the maximum limit and it is advisable 
to keep a little below it. I have conducted a series of experi- 
ments in which the results obtained by disinfection by heated 
water, and by sulphate of copper (the ordinary method), were 
contrasted. The following is an epitome of the results : — 
(a.) Sulphate of copper in the quantities generally employed 
will destroy not only the fungus, but from three to ten per cent, 
or even more of the seed-com. Disinfection by heated water does 
not injure the seed-corn to any appreciable degree. 
(h.) Sulphate of copper impairs the vitality of the young 
plants even when it does not kill them ; so that their average 
weight in autumn is distinctly less than that of those dis- 
infected by warm water. This injury to the young plants is 
of far greater importance than the mere killing of a certain 
proportion of the seed-corn. 
(c.) The first-named plants are therefore less able to with- 
stand the winter than the latter. Not only do a greater 
number die during the winter, but those which survive are less 
vigorous, and in summer have a smaller average weight. It is 
obvious, therefore, that as a general rule the crop pi'oduced' 
