' ERGOT ' 761 



At this stage of development of the fungus, a sweet, slightly 

 milky juice, popularly spoken of as 'honey-dew,' is secreted, 

 and the conidia float in it. Insects attracted by the sweet 

 liquid unconsciously carry these reproductive bodies from 

 flower to flower where they germinate and produce new 

 mycelia similar to those produced by the ascospores. It is 

 by means of these insect-carried conidia that the fungus is 

 propagated throughout the summer. Before the life-history 

 of the parasite was fully known, the conidial stage was 

 looked upon as a distinct species belonging to the genus 

 Sphacelia. 



While the conidia are being produced the mycelium continues 

 to grow and form a compact, elongated mass of hyphse, which 

 pushes aside the withered ovary, or carries the latter on its apex. 

 After a time the formation of conidia ceases and the fully-grown 

 mycelium becomes gradually transformed into the firm, dark- 

 coloured ergot, which, when mature, falls to the ground and 

 remains dormant during the winter. 



Prevention and Remedy. — {a) Draining tends to diminish 

 attacks of ergot, and deep ploughing to bury the fallen ergot is 

 beneficial. 



{p) Meadows should be cut when the grasses are in bloom 

 before the fungus has time to complete the formation of a mature 

 sclerotium. 



(c) Small patches of grasses in pastures are sometimes found 

 to be much infested with ergots ; in such cases the tops of the 

 grasses should be cut off with a scythe and then raked together 

 and burnt. 



(d') Samples of cereal grains or grass ' seeds ' containing ergots 

 should not be sown. 



Ex. 322. — Examine the dry inflorescences of grasses in rough pastures in 

 late summer and autumn for specimens of ergots. The latter are often 

 common and conspicuous on rye-grass, cocksfoot, and species of Brachy- 



