Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 4, 1802).djvu/354

320] Society."—The superiority of the Transplanting System over the Drill-Husbandry, is also fully demonstrated in the 3d vol. of the "Letters and Papers of the Bath and West of England Society."

Wheat is subject to the, and various other disorders, of which we have already treated, under the heads of , , &c. Hence we shall, by way of supplement, communicate two other remedies, which are recommended as being singularly effiracious in preventing the .—M. , whose authority is often questionable, relates in his German collection of economical and other facts, that wheat moistened with strong vinegar, in the proportion of 24 lbs. of the grain to 1 pint of this liquor, will be perfectly secure from that distemper. The corn should thus be prepared, shortly before it is sown; and, though it be kept for a fortnight in such acidified state, on account of rainy weather, yet it will not receive the least injury.—The next remedy is that proposed by Mr. ("Communications to the Board of Agriculture," vol. ii.), who attributes this disease to an insect resembling the wood-louse, though infinitely smaller: depositing its eggs in the chaff, or downy part of the wheat: and, as these vermin, if sown with the seed, would either totally destroy the stem of the future plant, or cause it to produce smut-balls, he advises the infected or suspected grains to be washed in water; by which expedient, all light or imperfect seed may not only be skimmed off the surface, but the greater part of the eggs of such insects will be separated. As, however, some of these eggs, notwithstanding this precaution, adhere to the grain, Mr. S. recommends the following preparation, that is preferable to infusions of lime, arsenic, and other mineral ingredients, which often retard or destroy vegetation:—Take of tobacco-leaves, of pulverized hellebore, and of Barbadoes aloes, each one pound; boil the two first substances, for about an hour and an half, in 10 English gallons of water. The fluid should next be strained through the sieve; then put into a vessel over the fire; and the aloes be added in a state of powder. The whole must now boil, till the last ingredient be completely dissolved; the liquor ought afterwards to be removed from the fire, and poured into a large vessel: when perfectly cold, it should be diluted with such a quantity of pure water as will amount to thirty gallons. The seed ought to be immersed in this preparation, and briskly agitated for 20 minutes; after which it must be dried on canvas, or on the floor.—Mr. S. remarks, that if 2 lbs. of coarse glue or gum-arabic be dissolved, its tenacity will cause the bitter ingredients to adhere more firmly to the grain.—The expence of this compound is said not to exceed seven or eight shillings, and to be sufficient for twelve bolls (six English quarters) of wheat; and, though such liquor be not prejudicial to vegetation, it is so nauseous, that neither pigeons, nor any other of the devouring tribe, will touch it. Mr., therefore, proposes the following method of destroying vermin on the growing crop: A piece of double flannel, about two yards in breadth, and sufficiently long to go across a ridge, ought to be provided with cords at each end, to serve as handles,