463 



globose head is rough with small prominences, which are the open- 

 ings of the cavities or conceptacles in which the spores are pro- 

 duced (Fig. 208, b and c). One of these conceptacles, highly 

 magnified, is shown in Fig. 209, a (p. 464) representing the oval 

 cavity filled with the long slender spore cases (asci) springing from 

 the base of the cavity. The mouth of the conceptacle opening 

 through the conical swelling is obvious ; this gives the granular 

 aspect to the head of the fungus. Four of the sacs or asci are 

 represented at 6, still more magnified. They are seen to be filled 



Fig. 208. 



with slender needle-shaped bodies, which are the ultimate and 

 perfect* reproductive spores of the ergot. A few of these spores 

 are represented still more magnified at c. 



Having traced the history of the ergot, we may now inquire 

 how and at what time the crops get infected, with the view of 

 seeing whether it is possible to discover any means of alleviating, 

 if not of destroying, this injurious parasite. 



At two different stages in the life of ergot, bodies are produced 

 which have the power of propagating the disease, namely, the 



