36 Dr. Balfour's Botanical Excursion. 



cially by watering healthy plants of ryo with water containing the 

 sporules. Proper draining will probably prevent the attack of ergot. 

 Ergot injures the quality of the flour, and cases are detailed in which 

 the use of diseased rye has caused dry gangrene. The disease is not, 

 however, peculiar to rye. It occurs in many grasses. Professor 

 Henslow has observed it in wheat in Suffolk ; and in the district in 

 which he saw it, it is stated that about a century ago several cases of 

 poisoning occurred from diseased wheat. Our party observed ergot 

 in considerable quantity on Anthoxanthum odoratum, and on Phalaris 

 arundinacea. The former grass is very abundant in many parts of 

 the island, and is well deserving of cultivation. Besides the ergot, 

 we noticed the disease in oats, caused by a species of uredo, and com- 

 monly called smut. In many fields the disease was very prevalent. 

 It is said to bo prevented by steeping the grain in stale urine, and 

 afterwards sifting lime on it. A solution of salt, and a weak solution 

 of sulphate of copper, have also been employed. 



August 19th. — The day was very unpromising, and thick mist and 

 rain set in about seven o'clock a.m. Nevertheless, four of the party 

 started in a conveyance for Portnahaven, while the rest went to Bal- 

 lagrant Loch to fish. The south-western shores of the island, as far 

 as Portnahaven or the Rhins, are low, gravelly, and occasionally 

 rocky, and consist chiefly of clay-slate, with greywacke slate in alter- 

 nate beds. Gneiss is met with in some parts of the shore, especially 

 between Octafad and the point of the Rhins or Rinns. These shores 

 produced few plants of interest. Geranium pratense was noticed near 

 Port-Charlotte, and in a neglected garden at the same place we 

 observed profusion of Papaver somniferum of a pink colour, with dark 

 spots at the base of the petals, similar to what occurs in Papaver Arge- 

 mone. The same variety was picked by Dr. Parnell at Ballagrant 

 At Portnahaven there is a lighthouse on an island close to the shore, 

 and there are other islands in the neighbourhood. The tides in this 

 quarter, more particularly at the point of the Rinns, are very violent 

 and rapid, and it is interesting to notice the agitation which is caused 

 even by a moderate degree of wind. On arriving at Portnahaven, the 

 weather was so bad and the rain so heavy, that two of the party did 

 not choose to quit the conveyance, and accordingly they proceeded 

 directly to Kilchearan, and there enjoyed the hospitality of Mr. Ralston 

 until the other two botanists met them. 



Proceeding along the western shore of the Rinns from Portnahaven 

 ■we encounter a very rugged and rocky coast, intersected by numerous 

 indentations, and broken up by narrow ravines into which the sea enters 

 with great violence. Fine caves and gigantic natural arches occur in 

 many places. The prevailing rocks are clay-slate and greywacke, with 

 occasional trap dykes of considerable extent. In some places, as at 

 Losset Hill, we met with a peculiar kind of conglomerate. Near 



