456 



rgot itself, and covers the bunted apex of the grains 

 bject to the attack of ergot. 



i well known. Improved 



.ill IN 



forage plant, though not so 

 injurious as it has been called ; indeed recent experiments make 



produced by the use of darnel have been really caused by the un- 

 observed ergot. The frequency with which rye-grass is attacked 

 has often been noticed. Edward Carroll says he never failed to 

 discover it more or less ergotted in fields allowed to stand for 

 seed, and he adds, what appears to be opposed to general experi- 

 ence, that its extent is in proportion to the wet or dry state of the 



quent when dry. The probable explanation of this reversing of 

 the experience in England and the Continent is, that it is due to 

 the normal moist atmosphere of Ireland, where Mr. Carroll made 

 his observations, being fitted for the germination of the spores of 

 fungi; while rain would wash the spores off the plants, and a 

 superabundance of water would be unfavourable to their growth. 



A head of Timothy-grass (Phleum pratense, Linn.) is represented 

 in Fig. 200 (p. 457) with an extraordinary number of ergotted 

 ears. This grass forms a considerable portion of the late meadow 

 crops in many districts. 



I have already in the darnel figured the ergot in a weed in cul- 

 tivated grounds; and in the barley -grass (Ilordeum murinum, 

 Linn.), Fig. 201 (p. 457), we have it on one of the most common 

 annual grass-weeds of our road-sides and waste places. Although 

 this is a worthless weed, as it is rejected even by the half-starved 

 animals that feed by the road-side, it may be actively injurious to 

 the agriculturist if it is to any extent a nidus for the growth of 

 ergot. 



Numerous other illustrations might be given, but our figures ot 

 the ergot, as it appears in cereals and in pasture and weed grasses, 

 are sufficient to show the general aspect of this parasitic fungus, 

 and to enable the reader easily to detect it. 



No farm or district has any right to hope for exemption from 

 this dangerous pest. It may not have been noticed, or it may 

 have actually been absent for many years, yet it may sudden y, 



