16 



ox ERGOT. 



mental crop of spring wheat, and in one head he observed that the 

 same grain was attacked by both fungi, as was noticed subsequently by 

 Phillipi and others, and has been illustrated and described by i uiasne. 

 A spikelet from the centre of this head is represented double the size 

 of nature in Fig 1. This consists of three grains, all diseased, itiat 



Fig. 1. 



Fig 2 



in the centre is the largest, the great size being due to the growth of 

 the ergot below the grain itself, which is entirely converted into bunt- 

 spores, and is carried on the apex of the growing ergot and sur- 

 mounted by the withered remains of the style. This is clearly seen 

 in the section of this grain (Fig. 2), in which the dark colour of the 

 bunt-spores at the apex is contrasted with the lighter-coloured internal 

 structure of the ergot below. The lateral grains of the spikelet are 

 about the size of ordinary wheat-grains, only, like all bunted grains, 

 they are somewhat shorter and blunter. One of these (Fig. 3, a) is 

 entirely converted into bunt-spores, whi'e the other {h and c) still 

 retains a small portion of the starch of the seed uninjured. 

 Maize is subject to the attack of ergot. 



The appearance of ergot in Eye-grass is well-known. Improved 

 husbandry has made Lolium temulentum a comparatively rare grass in 

 cultivated fields, where it is of little value as a forage plant, though 

 not so injurious as it has been cal'ed: indeed recent experiments 

 make it almost certain that the evils reported and believed to have 



