70 ON THE ERGOT. 



be well to draw attention to in this short paper, is extremely 

 complicated. It is well described in Sach's " Textbook of 

 Botany," and the various stages of the fungus are accurately 

 figured. He says " the development of the Ergot begins with 

 the formation of a filamentous mycelium, which attches itself to 

 the surface of the ovary of grasses, especially of Rye, while still 

 enclosed between the pales, covers it with a thick weft, and 

 partially penetrates into its tissue, while the apex and often 

 other parts of the ovary remain exempt from its attacks. Thus 

 the ovary of the grass becomes replaced by the soft mycelial 

 tissue of the fungus, which gradually elongates into a horn-like 

 excrescence, and often carries the stigma of the original pistil 

 upon its summit. The surface of the fungus now becomes split 

 up by depressions m which spores (Conidia) are produced in great 

 numbers. These spores fall to the ground and germinate. This 

 is what is known as the Sphacelia stage of the Ergot. After this 

 production of Conidia has been accomplished, the mycelium 

 beneath elongates considerably, becomes hard and stiff, and 

 assumes a purplish colour on its exterior. It is in this stage (the 

 Sclerotium) that the fungus is recognised as the Ergot. The 

 purple Sclerotium remains in a dormant condition during the 

 autumn, either seated on the withered flower stems of the grass 

 or embedded in the damp soil beneath. About springtime a new 

 activity commences by the development of receptacles beneath 

 the skin of the Sclerotium, which gradually burst through, and 

 are borne aloft upon short stalks. In these receptacles other 

 spores are developed in suitable sacs, or asci, as they are termed, 

 and these new spores, on reaching the flowers of suitable grasses, 

 recommence the cycle by developing the Sphacelia stage once 

 more. 



