(1696) I remember that when a few Years ago I was on the other side of the Meuse , our Farmer complained to me that a good deal of his Wheat , as it was standing on the stalk , was mixed with smutted Ears .As I had never before heard speak of smutted Wheat as it was standing on the stalk , I asked what this meant : smutted Wheat in the Ears .I got no other answer but that when the Wheat , as it stands on the Stalk , is Ripe or nearly ripe , and the Wheat grains then , instead of a white floury substance , Combating the disease .