CHAP. i. INSECT PESTS OF GRASSES. 929 



any trace of ergot is detected, the entire parcel of seeds in which it 

 occurs should, without hesitation, be rejected ; it would be foolish to 

 retain the parcel at a reduction in price, and it would be unwise to 

 accept it even as a gift. The ergots occurring upon the finer grasses, 

 such as fiorin, have an appearance much resembling the dung of mice, 

 and, being mistaken for this, they are regarded as harmless. Ergot is 

 less uncommon than might be supposed in corn crops, and in July we 

 have gathered fine specimens of ergoted wheat and barley. A series 

 of abortions came under our notice one winter, in which, after inquiry 

 and examination, we found that the dietary of the cows included barley 

 awns amongst which ergot was fairly abundant, and was, we strongly 

 suspect, the cause of the mischief. Hay, again, is not always to be 

 trusted, particularly if, on account of wet weather, the period of 

 cutting has been unduly delayed. In such circumstances, ergot may 

 not unreasonably be looked for, and such hay should never be served 

 to in-calf cows. 



It is unnecessary to discuss here the therapeutic properties of 

 ergot. That it is competent to produce abortion there is not the 

 slightest doubt; it is equally true that in-calf cows sometimes eat ergot 

 with impunity. It is possible that the effects of ergot will depend 

 upon the animal herself, and upon the circumstance whether the 

 stomach is already well-filled or not. 



Most of the foregoing remarks were communicated by us to the 

 " Journal of the British Dairy Farmer's Association, 1886," and may 

 be briefly summarised as follows : 



1. Ergot, a parasitic fungus, attacks pasture grasses, weed grasses, 

 and cereals. It never occurs on clovers or other cultivated plants. 



2. When eaten by in-calf cows, ergot is believed to be capable of 

 inducing abortion that is, premature expulsion of the calf. 



3. Abortion thus commenced may extend to other cows of the herd. 



4. Keep a sharp look-out for ergot in sunk fences, ditches, and other 

 damp situations, from June onwards. 



5. Perse veringly gather all ergoted grasses ; do not cut them down 

 and leave them on the ground. 



6. Carry away all the ergoted specimens and burn them ; do not 

 throw them on the rubbish heap. 



7. Get in the hay crop before the grasses have had an opportunity 

 to become ergoted. 



8. Never sow grass seeds containing ergot. 



9. Show your neighbours specimens of ergoted grasses, and invite 

 their co-operation in exterminating the pest. 



Of the insect pests of grasses, two may be mentioned as specially 

 troublesome, wireworm and leather jacket. The yellowish, six- 

 legged wireworms, which are the larvae of click beetles, live from three 

 to five years before they turn to pupa?. During the whole of this time 

 they are actively engaged in their destructive work amongst the roots. 

 Broken-up pasture land and clover leys often swarm with wireworms. 



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