Diseases of Timothy 



583 



the very serious effect 

 of the fungus poisou ou 

 animals. The consump- 

 tion of a small amount 

 of erc;ot will cause the 

 animal disease known 

 as ergotism or hoof-ail. 

 Hence great care should 

 be taken to keep the 

 fungus from pastures 

 and hay. 



The symptoms on the 

 grass are rather obscure 

 in the younger stages, 

 but become very marked 

 later. .At first a yellow- 

 ish, sticky substance 

 oozes out from between 

 the glumes and, on diy- 

 ing, becomes brown. 

 Later there will be seen 

 long black bodies grow- 

 ing out in place of the grain. These are the ergots in which the 

 poison is located. 



Ftg. 625. Heads of Orchard Grass in 

 Which a Large Number of Black 

 Ergots May Be Seen. 



The only control 

 abundant. 



i.~. to cut the ffrass before the ergots become 



Fig. 626. The Ergots Germinating. These Fall From 

 THE Ripe Heads of the Grass to the Ground and 

 Will Germinate in this Way in the Spring. The 

 Spores are Produced in the Globose Heads at the 

 Ends of the Stalks. 



