SMUT, in husbandry, a disease in corn, when the grains, instead of being filled with flour, are full of a stinking black powder.
There are two remedies for the smut, recommended by writers on husbandry; viz. steeping the feed in salt brine, and changing the feed.
As to the steeping of feed, when wheat is intended for drilling, it must be soaked in a brine of pure salt, dissolved in water, since urine is found to be highly prejudicial. The most expeditious way of brining wheat for drilling, is to lay it in a heap, and wash it with a strong brine sprinkled on it, stirring it up with a shovel, that it may be all equally brined, or wetted with it; after this, stir on some fine lime all over the surface, and stir it up, still stirring on more in the same manner till the whole is dusted with the lime: it will then be soon dry enough to be drilled without farther trouble. It must be quick-lime, in its full strength, that is used on this occasion.
The bread made of smutty corn, is very pernicious, acting as a narcotic, and occasioning not only sleepiness, but vertigo, and even convulsions.