in wet situations or poorly drained regions, constitutes a very considerable 

 portion of the grain." "From the literature, which I have examined some- 

 what extensively, I learn that the concensus of opinion in Europe is that 

 the plant is poisonous. I have shown, however, [Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. 

 Lond. Sec. B. Vol. 196, pp. 1-27, 1903.] that there are two races of the 

 plant, one with a fungus, and the other without a fungus, and there is ap- 

 parently no transference of the fungus from one race to the other. If the 

 seeds are really poisonous, it may be that those with the fungus are poison- 

 ous, while those without fungus are not. I have attempted recently to de- 

 termine this, but have failed to get any conclusive results." "It is well 

 known that some Europeans doubt the toxic action of these grains, 

 and it is worthy of note that Lolium temulentum very commonly car- 

 ries ergots. Robert and other European investigators ascribe the toxic 

 effects chiefly to the presence of ergot. I have personally attempted also to 

 obtain evidence of toxicity by feeding the seeds with the fungus and without 

 the fungus to rabbits, mice and guinea pigs, with absolutely no effect. As 

 far then as my own experience is concerned, I have been unable to prove the 

 toxicity of the Darnel ; but I must admit that these experiments have not been 

 at all extensive and are undoubtedly insufficient to serve as a basis for far- 

 reaching conclusions. I have recently obtained information from Califor- 

 nia, which tends to show, however, that the plant in that region is not at 

 all feared. In fact, I have letters from men interested in the milling of 

 wheat in California who inform me that the grain is sometimes intention- 

 ally mixed with barley for feed, and I can get absolutely no record of any 

 toxic action of the plant from California. As I have stated above, Darnel 

 is exceedingly common in that State." 



The above gives, I believe, a summary of this subject up to the present 

 time. 



Remedy: Sow clean seed. Should Darnel increase very much, doubtless 

 some improvement will be made in fanning mills by means of which the 

 seed will be separated from the grain, as has recently been done in the case 

 of Wild Oats. 



