154 TARE. 



existed its deleterious quality was due to the ergot, which 

 is an excrescence on the plant supposed to be the result of 

 disease. The effect of the ergot of maize or Indian corn is to 

 deprive of hair the animal eating much of it. Even the 

 teeth and hoofs of mules have been known to fall off in conse 

 quence of the animals feeding freely upon such diseased corn. 

 Perhaps the scriptural allusion includes the several kinds, each 

 injurious to the crops, very tenacious of growth, and requiring 

 great energy on the part of the husbandman to prevent its 

 presence in the field. 



&amp;lt;&) ; 

 ^gj^^-w 3 , 



