458 



he estimated that < 



i-fourth, of all the ears of 

 this grass in the district 

 were diseased! ('Gard. 

 Chron.,' 1847, p. 653.) 



The different drawings 

 have shown that the ergot 

 bears a certain relation to 

 of the plant in 



which it < 



in all it attains a larger 

 size than the normal grain, 



is scaly or somewhat granular, and is generally marked by longi- 

 tudinal and horizontal cracks, penetrating into and exposing the 

 interior. The colour is black or purple-black, but the interior is 

 white or purplish, and of a dense homogeneous structure (Fig. 204, 

 p. 459), composed of spherical or polygonal cells, so largely charged 

 with an oily fluid 1 as to burn freely when lighted at a ca ndle^___ 



