452 Mr. Surrn's Observations on the Cause of Ergot. 
I had not the opportunity of examining the rye in a young state, but have 
found the oblong bodies on old rye ergots. 
Note.—It is right for me to state, that when these observations were written 
I was not aware that much of what I have mentioned had already been noticed 
by earlier writers ; for I find that so long ago as 1783, Tessier speaks of having 
seen the fluid hanging in drops from ergot-bearing spikes, and several suc- 
ceeding observers notice the oblong bodies contained in the fluid, and which 
were by them considered as the sporules or seeds of the ergot. But the 
nearest approach to the correct view of the subject is given in the Trans- 
actions of the Linnean Society of Paris for 1826, by Leveillé, whose account 
differs but little from my observations. Leveillè is the first who distinctly 
states the oblong bodies (which are found accom panying the ergot) to be the 
seeds of a very minute fungus, to which he gives the very appropriate name 
Sphacelia segetum ; and which fungus he regards as the cause of Ergot. 
The question now is, in what way the ovarium becomes infected with this 
fungus so as to cause it to become an ergot? And although my observations 
(since my original paper was written) do not yet enable me to speak with cer- 
tainty on this point,—yet, on viewing all circumstances, I am still induced to 
consider Ergot to be a constitutional disease of the plant, brought about by 
the reproductive matter of the fungus being absorbed during germination, and 
carried up by the fluids of the plant, and becoming developed in the fructifica- 
tion even before the opening of the floral envelopes,—but whether the ovarium 
1$ at this time infected with the disease, 
during impregnation from the alread 
solved. 
or whether it is communicated to it 
y diseased anther, is a question still to be 
