488 Proceedings. 



At the conclusion of the address, a vote of thanks was moved by- 

 Mr. W. T. L. Travers, seconded by Mr. J. C. Crawford, and carried, both 

 these gentlemen, however, pointing out those portions of the address to which 

 they took exception. 



Dr. Hector introduced to the notice of the society a very important 

 question as affecting the interests of sheep farmers and agriculturists through- 

 out the colony, namely, the presence of Ergot in rye grass. The subject was 

 one to which Dr. Hector had devoted some attention previously, but the 

 presence of Ergot in rye grass pastures had so much increased during the past 

 season that several persons residing in various parts of the colony had brought 

 the subject again under his notice by correspondence, which was read to the 

 meeting. From this correspondence it appeared that the Hon. Mr. Fox had 

 devoted considerable attention to the subject, and his experience, together 

 with that of the other communicants, went to show that the effect of the 

 presence of Ergot was to give rise to a disease amongst breeding stock, which 

 greatly reduced the increase. In one instance quoted, where a flock of ewes 

 had been placed in a paddock where Ergot was afterwards found to be present, 

 the increase was only seventeen per cent. Cattle and horses were said to be 

 affected by the Ergot in the same manner. Dr. Hector said the subject was 

 one which required close investigation, as it was quite possible that the same 

 unseasonable weather which favoured the growth of fimgi might also produce 

 the effects attributed to the presence of Ergot. It was undoubted, however, 

 that some of the symptoms described in the correspondence were such as would 

 be produced by ergotism. He had placed the specimens in Dr. Berggren's 

 hands for examination, and it might be regarded as very fortunate that there 

 was at that moment, during the discussion of so important a subject, such a 

 high authority amongst them. 



Dr. Berggren, being requested to assist the society in its investigations, 

 proceeded to give a clear and interesting statement of the growth and develop- 

 ment of the Ergot, which he described as a fungus that passed through three 

 distinct stages of existence : first, attacking the flower of the plant affected by 

 it ; next, the seed, in which condition it developed the characteristic spur or 

 horn by which it is distinguished from other diseased grain, such as rust and 

 smut ; after which it fell to the ground and developed different spores, from 

 which sprang a ground fungus of a red colour shaped somewhat like a 

 mushroom, the spores shed from this latter form being those which attack the 

 flower of the grass. Tlie specimens submitted to him were unmistakably the 

 true Ergot, which ho thought must have been introduced into the colony 

 with grain. He said it was quite possible the mild wintcra of New 

 Zealand might affect its mode of development, as it might not require to 

 remain so long in its winter state as in the north of Europe. 



