EXTRACTS FROM PROCEEDINGS, 



lxxxiii 



often in soil wholly unfit for the purpose. It is, however, stated 

 that it occurs under other circumstances ; aud perhaps the fol- 

 lowing remarks may lead to something more definite on the sub- 

 ject, though, from the paucity of specimens laid before me, and the 

 impossibility of examining the disease in situ, I can throw out 

 little more than suggestions for future examination. 



On close inspection, under a common lens, you will observe that, 

 at the point where the glumes are attached to the rachis there is 

 f a red transparent spot, which seems to be constant in the speci- 



mens before me ; while in those cases where the young seed has 

 been arrested in its growth before impregnation had been per- 

 fected there is a similar condition. I find at those points a very 

 minute fungus, which may be merely an early stage of the Asper- 

 gillus with which the specimens are covered — but which, on the 

 other hand, may be quite independent of it. I observe a certain 

 degree of clamminess about the sheaths of the inflorescence, and 

 certainly, on examining the surface, I find something closely 

 resembling the production which Mr. Queckett called Ergotetia 

 abortifaciens ; but the specimens are so universally powdered with 

 the spores of the Aspergillus, which notoriously vary greatly in 

 form, that it is impossible to be certain as to their real nature. 

 The clamminess may be entirely accidental ; and if there were uni- 

 versally a sugary exudation such as accompanies the early stage of 

 Ergot it could scarcely be overlooked ; added to which, we have no 

 evidence to show that wheat is subject to Ergot in Australia, though 

 this is much more frequently the case in this country than is ge- 

 nerally suspected ; I have seldom, indeed, examined a miller's 

 hopper without finding ergoted grains. At any rate the attention 

 of cultivators should be called to this point in Australia, as it is one 

 of considerable importance ; and if the clamminess really exists, 

 well-selected specimens should be carefully dried, so as to leave 

 the exudation upon them, and at once transmitted to this country 

 for examination, if there is no one competent in Australia to give 

 a decided opinion. 



Mr. Ey is quite right as to the evidence he gave about rust ; but 

 that relative to " take-all" is absurd. He can never have seen the 

 Vibrio of wheat, or he could not have made the statement he does. 



The " Drake," which accompanied the mildewed wheat, is the 

 common darnel, Lolium temulentum. 



I am, very truly yours, 



M. J. Berkeley. 



