and some other Grasses. 455 



privées de ce suc, quoiqu'elles contenissent de jeunes ergots, je ne puis pro- 

 noncer sur la cause qui le produit, ni sur la part qu'il a à la formation de l'er- 

 got." From this it appears to be difficult to determine from whence the liquid 

 escapes, and also it teaches us that it is not always present. 



Leveillé in his Mémoire sur V Ergot (Annales Soc. Linn. Paris, 1827, vol. 5, 

 p. 570,) gives it as his opinion, that the presence of the liquid always precedes 

 the formation of the ergot, and from other observations states, "De plus elles 

 nous ont appris que ce suc est un champignon dont le mode de développement, 

 l'organization et les effets méritent la plus grande attention": this, however, does 

 not determine its origin ; but (p. 571 ) it is stated, " Si ce champignon traverse les 

 glumes sans éprouver d'accident, on le voit à l'extrémité de l'ergot, ou il forme 

 un tubercule jaune." " Il laisse écouler un liquide visqueux :" here is stated 

 the source of "a viscid liquid," which it is imagined is identical with the one 

 under consideration, wiiich is said to exude from the fungus at the apex of 

 the ergot ; but it will be attempted to be shown hereafter that this considered 

 fungus is in reality not one, but a portion of the diseased ovary ; therefore, if the 

 fluid escapes from this, it in all probability has its origin in the diseased grain. 



Philippar {Traité S^c. sur VErgot du Seigle, p. 1 1 1,) inclines to the opinion of 

 the internal origin of this viscid liquid in the following words : " En remontant 

 à la source de ce liquide, on voit qu'il s'extravase d'un centre floral." (p. 1 15.) 

 "La transudation du liquide cesse insensiblement et lorsque l'ergot a acquis 

 tout son accroissement il n'y a plus de transudation." From these observations 

 it appears that the liquid escapes from the ergot ; but still it would be a mat- 

 ter of some interest to ascertain the precise point from which it flows, and to 

 acquire other information respecting it. 



Having ascertained the healthy structure of the young grain, the observa- 

 tions were directed to the earliest appearance of the ergot ; and it was found 

 that when influenced in its growth by the presence of a parasitic fungus (here- 

 after described), its healthy state was lost at a very early period, by the rapid 

 germination of the latter, which, like others of its kindred, generated in a short 

 time an inconceivable number of reproductive atoms. 



The tirst appearance of the young grain changing from its healthy condition 

 is manifested by its appearing swollen and softened, and possessing, as Leveillé 

 and Philippar have described, a fetid disagreeable odour : in this state it breaks 



VOL. xviii. 3 o 



