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S6 MICROSCOPIC FUNGI.
remarks inspired no sucli alarm in tlie districts of
our experience, but in some seasons and localities
it is certainly one of the ^'^ pests of tlie farm/'
Under the different appellations of " bunt/' " pepper
brand," ^' bladder brand,'' and sometimes ^^ smut,"
this infection is very generally known. Externally
there is no appearance, except to the practised eye,
that anything is wrong. There is no black impalpable
dust about the ears as in the true ^^ smut,"
no red withered leaves or spotted stem as in the
" rust" and ^^
mildew," and no stunted growth or
malformation, evident to the casual glance, by which
the insidious foe can be recognized ;
but stealthily
and secretly the work is accomplished, and until
the " bunted" grains make their appearance in tho
sample, the disease may^ perchance,, be unchallenged.
Externally the '^ bunted " grain is plumper, and
whilst the corn is still
green these will be of a brighter
green than the rest (plate V. fig. 84) "When broken,
.
the farinaceous interior will be found replaced by a
minute black dust of a very foetid, unpleasant odour,
and greasy to the touch (fig. 85). This powder
constitutes the spores of the ^^ bunt" mixed with
myceloid threads. It may happen that much of
the corn in a field " is bunted," and the discovery
not made till the wheat is
being ground for flour ;
then the odour and colour will speedily decide the
produce to be unfit for human food. We have not
the least doubt that '^ bunted" corn, when ground