206 
THE PRINCIPLES OF BOTANY. 
goid growths (b) of several kinds, among which ergot, mould, 
and mildew, seem conspicuous. 
Diseased Oats magnified 200. 
Fig. 1. Oat-grains enlarged . — A. Section of healthy grain. B. Diseased 
oats covered with fungi. C. Section of grain with horn-like body. 
These fungoid growths were examined by Mr. Jabez Hogg, 
and our next figure shows a fungus consisting of delicate, 
flexile, elongated pedicels, surmounted by a thin mem- 
branous case, which, on bursting, exposes myriads of spores. 
These spores, in rows, assume a brush-like form, and hence 
the plant has been named Aspergillus , from the brush used 
for sprinkling holy water in the Roman Catholic services. 
The third figure contains a mixture of various fungi, 
amongst which the Aspergillus is still conspicuous, but the 
right of our cut shows what appears to be some very minute 
agarics. These afford convincing proof that the oats must 
have been kept in a shameful state. Probably originally badly 
grown, and it would seem from, in every way, a diseased 
crop, which was doubtless harvested badly, and kept in a bad 
condition afterwards. 
But now that we have spoken of these oats as probably 
ergotised, it may be well in this place to offer a few remarks 
upon this affection, to which grass seeds are so liable. 
Our readers are well acquainted with the drug called ergot 
of rye. It is thus described in the ‘ Veterinary Pharmaco- 
