and some other Grasses. 455 
privées de ce suc, quoiqu'elles contenissent de jeunes ergots, je ne puis pro- 
noncer sur la cause qui le produit, ni sur la part qu'il a à la formation de l'er- 
got.” From this it appears to be difficult to determine from whence the liquid 
escapes, and also it teaches us that it is not always present. 
Leveillé in his Mémoire sur l'Ergot (Annales Soc. Linn. Paris, 1827, vol. 5, 
p. 570,) gives it as his opinion, that the presence of the liquid always precedes 
the formation of the ergot, and from other observations states, “ De plus elles 
nous ont appris que ce suc est un champignon dont le mode de developpement, 
l'organization et les effets meritent la plus grande attention": this, however, does 
not determine its origin; but (p. 57 I) it is stated,“ Si ce champignon traverse les 
glumes sans éprouver d'accident, on le voit à l'extrémité de l'ergot, ou il forme 
un tubercule jaune.” “Tl laisse écouler un liquide visqueux:" here is stated 
. the source of “a viscid liquid,” which it is imagined is identical with the one 
under consideration, which is said to exude from the fungus at the apex of 
the ergot ; but it will be attempted to be shown hereafter that this considered 
fungus is in reality not one, but a portion of the diseased ovary ; therefore, if the 
fluid escapes from this, it in all probability has its origin in the diseased grain. 
Philippar (Traité &c. sur I Ergot du Seigle, p. 111,) inclines to the opinion of 
the internal origin of this viscid liquid in the following words: * En remontant 
à la source de ce liquide, on voit qu'il s'extravase d'un centre floral." (p. 115.) 
" La transudation du liquide cesse insensiblement et lorsque l'ergot a acquis 
tout son accroissement i] n'y a plus de transudation.“ From these observations 
it appears that the liquid escapes from the ergot; but still it would be a mat- 
ter of some interest to ascertain the precise point from which it flows, and to 
acquire other information respecting it. 
Having ascertained the healthy structure of the young grain, the observa- 
tions were directed to the earliest appearance of the ergot; and it was found 
that when influenced in its growth by the presence of a parasitic fungus (here- 
after described), its healthy state was lost at a very early period, by the rapid 
germination of the latter, which, like others of its kindred, generated in a short 
time an inconceivable number of reproductive atoms. 
The first appearance of the young grain changing from its healthy condition 
is manifested by its appearing swollen and softened, and possessing, as Leveillé 
. and Philippar have described, a fetid disagreeable odour : in this state it breaks 
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