We have not seen any of this so-called wild rye; it would, however, be of great service could some good experiments be made with it, with a view of noting the changes which take place on cultivation. Indeed, we have long wished for authentic examples of all our wild, or supposed wild, cereals, with a view of examining side by side the nature and amount of the changes which cultivation would most assuredly produce. Rye, unlike either wheat or barley, is not remarkable for a long list of varieties—a fact which may, perhaps, be attributed to the more limited growth of the former than the two latter. Its less extended cultivation must be attributed to its inferior qualities as food; for, though rye is in the main a hardier plant than wheat, and therefore could withstand the evils of a colder climate and colder treatment, yet with the advanced climate—the acclimatization of a country rather than a plant—the superior plant, wheat, everywhere prevails; and this cause also gives rise to the production of finer varieties, which are thus grown where only coarser ones were possible. CHAPTER XXVIII. EPIPHYTICAL PARASITES (VEGETABLE BLIGHTS) OF CORN CROPS. These forms of parasite are so numerous, that nearly every species of flowering plant may become the nidus even of several named genera, with many species, or, at least, varieties of them. We here say attacked, because the advent of many of their forms passes under the name of “blight;” a term which at once recognises their injurious tendency. Whether these epiphytes are the causes of the so-called blighted conditions, or merely their effects, is a subject upon which no little discussion has been expended. We do not, however, mean to re-open the question here; we will only remark, that in all probability this very wide range of the lower tribes of the vegetable kingdom is very variable in these respects. Again: it will be impossible to enter into details of the different species of epiphytes. We shall hope, therefore, to elucidate their natural history, in so far as the farmer is concerned, by pointing out the more general facts connected with the following forms:— 1. _Uredo segetum_—Smut or dust-brand of wheat, barley, and grasses. 2. _Uredo caries_ (_Tilletia_)—Bunt } } 3. _Uredo rubigo_—Red gum or red robin } } of wheat. 4. _Uredo linearis_ } } }—Straw-rust, or “mildew” } 5. _Puccinia graminis_ } } 6. _Puccinia fabæ_—Bean-rust. 7. _Æcidium berberidis_—Barberry-rust. 8. _Cladosporium herbarum_—Corn-ear mould. 9. _Botrytis infestans_—Potato-mould and mildew. 10. _Botrytis_—Turnip-mildew. 11. _Oïdium erysiphioides_ } } Hop-mildew. 12. _Erysiphe macularis_ } 13. _Oïdium abortifaciens_—Ergot of grasses.