in Husbandry, a disease incident to plants, which affects them variously, the whole plant sometimes perishing by it, and sometimes only the leaves and blossoms, which will be scorched and shrivelled up, the rest remaining green and flourishing.

Some have supposed that blights are usually produced by an easterly wind, which brings vast quantities of insects eggs along with it, from some distant place, that, being lodged upon the surface of the leaves and flowers of fruit-trees, cause them to shrivel up and perish.

To cure this distemper, they advise the burning of wet litter on the windward side of the plants, that the smoke thereof may be carried to them by the wind, which they suppose will stifle and destroy the insects, and thereby cure the distemper.

Others direct the use of tobacco-duft, or to wash the trees with water wherein tobacco-stalks have been infused for 12 hours; which they say will destroy those insects, and recover the plants.

Pepper-duft scattered over the blossoms of fruit-trees, &c. has been recommended as very useful in this case; and there are some that advise the pulling of the leaves that are distempered.

The true cause of blights seems to be continued dry easterly winds for several days together, without the intervention of flowers, or any morning dew, by which the perspiration in the tender blossom is stopped; and if it so happens that there is a long continuance of the same weather, it equally affects the tender leaves, whereby their colour is changed, and they wither and decay.

The best remedy for this distemper, is gently to wash and sprinkle over the tree, &c. from time to time, with common water; and if the young shoots seem to be much infected, let them be washed with a woollen cloth, so as to clear them, if possible, from this glutinous matter, that their respiration and perspiration may not be obstructed. This operation ought to be performed early in the day, that the moisture may be exhaled before the cold of the night comes on: nor should it be done when the sun shines very hot.

Another cause of blights in the spring, is sharp hoarfrosts, which are often succeeded by hot sunshine in the day-time. This is the most sudden and certain destroyer of the fruits that is known.

BLIGHTED CORN. "See SMUT.