KK<;<)I ON <.K\SS 



The black grains which are so prominent on the head of grass shown above are not grass-grains, 

 but are hardened masses of a fungus called ergot. This fungus contains a peculiar poison 

 which is a frequent cause of altortion in cattle that may he unfortunate enough to eat grass 

 diseased in this manner. A <lrug commc-rciaily known as ergotine is extractcil from these 

 hard, black, ergot grains. If the fungus occurs in large enough ciuantity to make liarvcsting 

 worth while, the disease may be turned into a source of profit, since the wliolesalc drug 

 firms offer a ready market for the sale of ergot grains. (Fig. 7.) 



