2 BULLETIN 1210, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 
ship between the bunt fungus and the disease was established, an 
the essential facts pertaining to the life history of the organism were 
definitely ascertained. The Kiihn or modern period is characterized 
by a searching and detailed consideration of the more strictly path- 
ologic aspects of the problem and an experimental study of various 
methods of controlling bunt. More recently, attention has been 
given to the study of varietal resistance to bunt and to the relation 
of certain growth factors to infection and the subsequent develop- 
ment of the disease within the host. 
GENERAL HISTORICAL RETROSPECT. 
THE PRE-TILLET PERIOD. 
There is-no doubt that bunt, or stinking smut, of wheat, due 
either to Tilletia tritici (Bjerk.) Wint.s or 7. laevis Kiihn, has been ~ 
known to wheat growers for many centuries, probably ever since 
wheat became a cultivated crop. Without question it was known to 
Theophrastus, as well as to Vergil, Pliny, and other ancient Romans. 
It seems, however, that the same term was made to apply to both 
rust and smut by these early writers; in fact, these diseases certainly 
were thus confused by some writers as late as the middle of the 
eighteenth century. In the early English writings on the subject, 
mildew was used as synonymous with smut. In like manner it 
is found that “‘Mehltau” and ‘“ Brand” were used interchangeably 
by early German writers. 
R. Bradley (56) ,* professor of botany in the University of Cambridge, 
London, 1725, says: 
We find here a fresh Scene of Mischief, from the Mildew in the first Places, which — 
is here call’d Kobigo, and by some Rubigo, is the Smut in Corn, which often spoils 
whole Fields, or Crops of Grain; for where this happens in any Quantity to distinguish 
itself, it spoils the whole Parcel of Corn for Sale, and renders it unwholesome to be 
used in Flower or Meal; or to be sown, we must certainly expect our Crop to produce 
a great deal of it. Scaliger, on Theophrastus, tells us, that Smut, or Mildew, is a certain 
Putrefaction, when the Dew, or Rain, that is lodg’d in the Ears of Corn, is not shaken 
off, but by the adventitious Heat of the Sun corrupts and putrefies. It is supposed, 
that this Disease happens most in enclosed Grounds, where the Air is more close 
than in Hills or Champain. The Remedy of this, says Pliny, is by sticking Laurel 
Branches in the Ground (that is, what we call the Bay) which will draw the blasting — 
Vapour to them; and for this End were the Feasts, call’d Rubigalia, instituted by 
Numa, in the Eleventh Year of his Reign. But I differ in Opinion from Scaliger, 
that this Smut in Corn is the Effect of Putrefaction: My Opinion is, that all Blights 
proceed from Insects, for besides the Observations I have made with Microscopes, 
upon the Black in Corn, which plainly discovers it to be the Eggs of Insects; there is a 
certain Remedy found against it, by Colonel Plummer, late of Hertfordshire, which — 
consists in steeping of Corn before it is sown, by which these pestiferous Eggs are 
destroy’d; so that the Corn steep’d, as he directs, will not produce any smutty Corn. 
The Receipt for making this Brine, for steeping of Corn, is in my Monthly Writings. — 
{The writers were unable to obtain access to Mr. Bradley’s Monthly Writings to which 
reference is here made. ] 
8 Tilletia tritici (Bjerk.) Wint. Syn. Lycoperdon tritici (in Svensk. Vetensk. Akad. Handl. 1775, p. 326, 
Abhdlg. d. Schwed. Akademie, Deutsch von Kastner). ; 
Uredo caries DC., 1815, Flore frane., 5(6), p. 78. 
Cacoma segetuin Nees, 1816, Syst. Pilze, p. 14 pl. I, fig. 7. 
Uredo sitophila Ditmar, 1813, in Sturm Deutschl. Flora, Abt. III, Bd. 1, p. 69, pl. 34. 
Caeoma sitophilum Link, 1833, in Linne, Spec. Plant, ed. 6, v. 2, p. 2. 
Uredo foetida Bauer, 1824, in Ann. Sci. Nat. Ser. A ESC egi aki ee 
Erysibe foetida Wallr., 1833, Flora Crypt Germ., v. 2, p. 213. 
Tilletia caries Tul., 1847, Mem. Ustil., p. 113. A , 
‘The serial numbers (italic) in parentheses refer to the ‘ Bibliography” at the end of this bulletin. 
