16 General Martin Field on [Jan. 



probe it anew. On the 2d of August both grains appeared to 

 be in a state of fermentation, and rapidly tending to decay. On 

 the 3d, being forty-eight hours from the time when I commenced 

 my observations, each grain had become a rotten and shapeless 

 mass, and exhibited very little appearance of healthy rye. Then 

 on carefully opening the valves of the glume, I discovered in 

 each a small black globule, the size of which was rather larger 

 than a pin's head. These were situate at the points of the 

 peduncles of the diseased grains, which afterwards proved to be 

 ergot. During the first four days after the ergot was discovered, 

 they grew in length very near two lines in each 24 hours, dis- 

 placing the remains of the diseased lye from the glumes which 

 they had occupied. On the 12th of August, the ergot had 

 attained its full growth. The dimensions of one grain of ergot 

 were 12 hues in length, and three lines in diameter. The other 

 grain measured a little less. 



On the 3d of August, being convinced that the primary cause 

 of ergot was the puncture of the healthy grain by the fly, it 

 occurred to me that perhaps it might be produced by such means 

 as I possessed. To ascertain this fact, with the point of a fine 

 needle 1 punctured four grains of rye, in the same head, it then 

 being in a green pulpy state, and of full grown size. A discharge 

 of the juice of the grains was soon discovered from the orifice of 

 each. The flies collected as in those cases before mentioned. 

 The result was, that on the fourth day after the operation was 

 performed, ergot appeared in the glume, occupying the places 

 of two of the punctured grains. The other two grains exhibited 

 no symptoms of decay, but continued in a healthy state. From 

 appearances, I am led to believe that in warm dry weather many 

 grains of rye are punctured, which are not materially injured 

 thereby. The orifice closes before a sufiicient quantity of juice 

 has escaped to produce fermentation and decay. This may, 

 therefore, be assigned as one reason why cloudy and wet seasons 

 are so much more productive of ergot than those which are fair 

 and dry. 



Under a good microscope, I occasionally examined the ergot, 

 and also the grains of rye, in every stage of decay, but was never 

 able to discover in either the eggs or larvm of any insect. J, 

 therefore, conclude that the puncture of the fly is for the purpose 

 of extracting its food from the rye, and not for the deposition 

 of its eggs. 



The fly is of the hairy o r bristly species of Musca, and also a 

 species of the " blow fly." It deposits its eggs upon animal 

 flesh, either fresh or putrid. Its wings are transparent, abdo- 

 men dark green, larger than the common house fly ; in this 

 climate, in the months of July, August, and September, the 

 most numerous species of the fly, and very annoying to horses, 

 oxen, and some other animals. 



The above statement contains all the material facts which 



