Linncean Society. 55 



black colour was then visible, on account of the mildewed appear- 

 ance not keeping pace in development with the Ergot*. 



After the ergot begins to appear beyond the palese, it in a short 

 time attains its full size, and loses almost entirely its mildewed 

 , covering, presenting now its perfect violet black surface, and mea- 

 sures in different specimens from half an inch to one inch and half. 



If the ergot be examined carefully at this period, in such speci- 

 mens as have not been subjected to injury or displacement on the 

 plant, it will be found that at its base are the two scales which are 

 observable in the same place in the healthy grain, and that it is ar- 

 ticulated to the receptacle, and separates from it as readily as the 

 grain when ripe does from the same spot, and at the apex of it is a 

 small body, frequently hairy, on which can be observed the remains 

 of the stigmas. 



From the relations of the ergot to these parts, and compared with 

 those of the healthy grain, it is found that it is placed between and 

 upon the same organs as the grain, and there cannot be a doubt but 

 that this singular body is not an independent fungus, but a grain 

 diseased from causes presently to be mentioned. 



When the particles before mentioned, which occur on the surface 

 of the ergot, and are also found in a viscid fluid that hangs about 

 the palese of the infected grass, are examined by the microscope, 

 their size is found to be -^ oV o part of an inch in length, and ttjW 

 part of an inch in diameter in the generality of instances, and their 

 number is countless, probably 20 millions on each ergot. When 

 magnified from 500 to 800 times, it then can be observed that their 

 interior contains several well-defined green dots or granules, two 

 or three being the most common numbers. 



If these particles, which are no doubt the cause of the ergot, as 

 they are found on every ergotized grass and are sporidia of a certain 

 fungus, be kept moistened on any convenient surface, as between a 

 plate of glass and talc, they soon commence germinating (if recent) 

 in various ways ; sometimes by emitting a tube or tubes containing 

 green granules, similar to those in the interior of the sporidia, and 

 which probably separate finally into as many perfect reproductive 

 atoms ; in other instances one sporidium gives off a minute process 

 from its side, which goes on increasing and ultimately becomes like 



* The growth of the ergot is very rapid when compared with that of the 

 grain. Philippar, in his ' Traite Organographique et Physiologico-agricole 

 sur I'Ergot, &c., dans les Cereales', observed some particular plants of rye, 

 whilst passing by a certain cornfield, which had no appearance of ergot, but 

 ten or twelve days after these sames plants had full-sized ergots upon them. 



