446 



On Ergot. 



Ti". 1. 



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ris. 2. 



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\. 



rye : nevertheless, when carefully sought for, it will often be 

 found. It has been observed in all the cultivated varieties of 



wheat. Fig. 3 (p. 447) 

 represents a remarkable 

 case of diseased spring 

 wheat, observed by Bauer. 

 Two of the ears only are 

 ergotted, while the great 

 majority are affected by 

 another and better known 

 disease, bunt or pepper- 

 brand, due also to a 

 minute parasitic fungus 

 i^Tilletia caries, Tul.). 



Bauer made a series of 

 experiments with the view 

 of discovering the manner 

 in which different diseases 

 due to microscopic fungi 

 might be communicated 

 to wheat and other cereals. 

 He placed a quantity of 

 the powder (spores) of 

 bunt on the seed of spring- 

 wheat, Avhich he then 

 sowed. As the wheat 

 ripened it became exten- 

 sively affected with the 

 bunt disease. In bunt 

 the contents of the grains 

 are generally completely 

 replaced by a uniform 

 black powder ; the grain 

 is brittle and easily 

 crushed between the fin- 

 gers, when it has a greasy 

 feeling and gives off an 

 offensive fetid smell. 

 Under the microscope 

 this black powder is seen 

 to be composed of spheri- 

 cal spores with a reticu- 

 lated surface (Fig. 4, p. 

 448.) If a diseased grain 

 is examined before the spores are fully ripe, they will be seen 



}1ye, Secale cereale, Linn. Two Spikes bearing several 

 Ergots. 



