82 Lilittceae, Graminex [ch. 



the animal keeps its snout buried in the htter. There is also extremely 

 foetid diarrhoea, with dysentery. 



RBFEEENCES. 



4, 16, 27, 73, 81, 128, 130, 141, 148, 151, 



190, 192, 203, 217, 255. 



GBAMINEiE. 



Darnel {Lolium temulentum L.). The grass known as Darnel, of 

 the same genus as rye-grass, has been recognized for centuries as a 

 harmful species, and it is considered by some authorities that it is really 

 the tares of Scripture which the enemy sowed among the wheat. Its 

 effect on eyesight was known to the ancients^, and its objectionable 

 character was noted by Shakespeare : — 



"Want ye com for bread? 

 I think the Duke of Burgundy will fast 

 Before he'U buy again at such a rate : 

 'Twas full of darnel: Do you like the taste?" 



—1 Henry VI, Act HI, Sc. 2. 



Its effect when mixed with flour was also referred to by Gerarde (1597) : 

 "The new bread whereiu Darnell is, eaten hot, causeth drunkenness; 

 in like manner doth beere or ale wherein the seede is fallen, or put into 

 the maidt." 



Before the seeding stage is reached Darnel seems to be quite suitable 

 as a food for stock, only the seed or graia being poisonous, and this not 

 invariably so. The chief danger perhaps is that the grain may not be 

 thoroughly removed from cereal grains, and may thus find its way into 

 bread or cereal stock foods. Though it has caused many cases of human 

 poisoning, fatal results seem to be rare: Dr. Taylor could record no 

 fatal case up to 1859. Darnel mixed with barley caused the poisoning 

 of pigs {VeterincNrian, 1842). Johnson and Sowerby (1861) state that 

 Darnel has in several cases proved fatal to horses and sheep. The same 

 authorities quote a, case in which 80 inmates of Sheffield Workhouse 

 were attacked by violent vomiting and purging from the use of oatmeal 

 containing Darnel. At the Veterinary School at Lyons a horse was 



• E.g. Ovid says "Let the fields be clear of darnel that weakens the eyes." In 

 Plautus' comedy, The Braggart Soldier, one servant says to another, " 'Tis a wonder 

 that you are in the habit of feeding on darnel with wheat at so low a price." 

 " Why 80? " " Because you are so dim of sight." [Agric. Jour. Union of S. Africa, 

 Jan. 1914, p. 82.] 



