DISEASES THE "EKGOT." 179 



done on the Continent, where it occupies a much more 

 important position as a bread- corn than with us. There, 

 however, it is admitted by all to be far less subject to the 

 ordinary diseases than the other cereals: still it is to a 

 limited extent liable to be affected by them; while one 

 disease, the "ergot/' more disastrous in its effects than 

 all the others, seems to be peculiarly a disease to which 

 rye is subject; as, although it has been noticed in both 

 wheat and barley, it is happily of very rare occurrence in 

 those crops. Schwerz an able cultivator, and a high 

 authority on all such subjects speaks also strongly in re- 

 ference to the influence of the Berberry tree in causing 

 mildew in the crop. His observations satisfied him that 

 within a range of 5 or 6 yards of a berberry tree the 

 plants were always mildewed while in other parts of the 

 same crop at a greater distance, mildew was not noticed; 

 neither did it occur if the exciting cause, the berberry 

 tree, was removed. The chief attention, however, has 

 been paid to the "ergot;" and, although at present we 

 know of no remedy for it, we are sufficiently acquainted 

 with it as to be able to guard against its dreadful effects, 

 by carefully abstaining from using for feeding purposes 

 any grain at all affected by it, which should only be made 

 use of for brewing and distilling, or the diseased grains 

 should be carefully selected and sold for medicinal pur- 

 poses. The disease seems to originate in some disturbance 

 of the organs of the plant at the time of flowering, and is, 

 no doubt, greatly influenced by atmospheric action at that 

 period. According to Berkeley, " at the beginning of the 

 malady the ovary itself does not appear to be affected. It 

 retains its form and colour, but is more tender than usual. 

 The ovule is at that time white, but surrounded l>y a 

 yellow viscid substance. It then swells immensely, bursts 

 its integuments, becomes more or less elongated, with fre- 

 quently a considerable curvature, according to the species 



