On Err/of. 445 



a parasitic fungus. The recent appearance of a blight among 

 garden hollyhocks, and their allies, the wild mallows, is a remark- 

 able exception. This minute fungus (^Puccinia Malvacearum, 

 Mont.) was described by Montagne from Chili, (jf which country- 

 it appears to be a native. It was afterwards noticed in Australia ; 

 and a year ago it appeared for the first time in England, in such 

 abundance that it was observed almost everywhere in the south, 

 and in some places not a single Malvaceous plant, wild or 

 cultivated, could be found that had not been attacked by it. 

 It is reported in the same abundance from many districts this 

 year. 



It is to be hoped that the growing attention which is being 

 given to these smaller fungi may lead to a better acquaintance 

 Avitli the causes inducing their sudden appearance and rapid 

 development. When these causes are known, one may obtain 

 the power of modifying or controlling, if not of totally preventing, 

 their ravages. 



Ergot has been observed on a large number of our native and 

 cultivated grasses, as well as on our cereal crops. The grasses 

 that are most subject to its attacks are Rye-grass (^Lolium perennc^ 

 Linn.) ; the Brome-grasses (Bromus sccalijms, Linn., B. mollisy 

 Linn., B.pratensis, Ehr.) ; Couch-grass {Triticwm rejjens, Linn.) ; 

 Fox-tail-grass {Alojjecurus pratensis^ Linn.) ; Timothy-grass 

 (Phleum pTafe7ise, Linn.) ; Fescue-grass (^Festuca elatior, Linn.) ; 

 J3arley-grass {Hordeum murimun, Linn.) ; and Manna-grass {Ghj- 

 ceria Jiuitaus, R. Br.). With the view of enabling the reader to 

 recognise this pest, which is made too little account of by agri- 

 culturists, I have given a number of engravings from remarkably 

 accurate but till now unpublished drawings of its appearance on 

 different plants, made by Francis Bauer, who for several years 

 carefully observed this disease, when he was connected with the 

 Royal Gardens at Kew as botanical draughtsman. 



As we are most familiar with the appearance of ergot on the 

 cereals, I shall first notice the grain plants affected by it. 



That on which it is best known, and from which it is chiefly 

 collected for use in medical practice is Rye (^Secale cereale, 

 Linn.). In Fig. 1 (next page) is shown a spike of rye, with only 

 a single ear affected by a short and thick ergot ; but in Fig. 2 

 several ears are ergotted, and the larger and more slender forms 

 of the majority of the diseased ears exhibit their usual aspect. 

 The great increase in the size of the grain, shown in the draw- 

 ings, suggested to Bauhin the name {Secale luxurians) he gave to 

 ergot, more than 250 years ago, in one of the first published 

 notices of the disease. 



In barley and wheat ergot is not so frequently met with as in 



