284 
ERGOTED GRAIN. 
in size. Externally it is slightly rough, varying in tint from 
black or brown to purplish, with frequently a white mealy 
wash in parts, and at first, if not permanently, tipped with a 
little irregular scale-like process. When examined under the 
microscope it exhibits, on a section of this upper portion or 
the parts adjacent, little spore-like bodies seated on the tips 
of short, straight threads vertical to the surface of the mass, 
which are supposed to have the office of impregnation, while 
within it consists of a white cellular mass rich in oil-globules. 
Such is the condition of the plant the season in which it is 
produced, or till it has remained for some time on the ground, 
or is lightly covered with soil after the lapse of some months 
in a common garden-pot. A very curious change then takes 
place. A little pin-shaped purplish fungus sprouts in greater 
or less quantity from the sides, the head of which is studded 
with little receptacles containing linear transparent sacs filled 
with thread-like sporidia. 
The ergot, then, as generally known, is merely a transitional 
form, or rather the first stage in the existence of the fungus, 
ending with the production of minute bodies, w T hich are 
either reproductive or, as is more probable, serve for the 
impregnation of the perfect fungus. 
The grains of a large variety of grasses are subject to become 
ergoted, and ergoted grains have also been observed in the 
genus Eleocharis, which belongs to the order Cyperaceae. 
Amongst the grasses, besides the cereals, rye, wheat, and 
barley, may be mentioned couch-grass, darnel, rye-grass, 
cock’s-foot, foxtail, and reed. The ergot of the reed, and blue 
melic (Molinia ccerulea) so common in moors, does not produce 
the same fungus as that of the other grasses just mentioned, 
and that again which springs from the ergot of the Eleocharis 
is specifically distinct. The seeds of the common reed are 
peculiarly subject to ergot, and the heads of flowers when 
blown off by the wind lie upon the damp soil for some months 
before the ergot is properly developed. The fungus of this 
ergot may be raised artificially by placing the head upon 
damp sand covered with moss, or if they are placed with the 
stalks constantly immersed in water the ergot will in time 
produce its fungus. If any of our readers wish to see the 
ergot of rye, barley, or wheat developed, they have only to 
cover them slightly with soil about the month of April, 
keeping it moderately moist with rain water, and they will be 
pretty sure to have a crop. And they will raise exactly the 
same fungus from the ergot of rye-grass, except that, in pro¬ 
portion to the size of the ergoted grain, the resulting fungus 
will vary in size and number. 
The reproductive bodies of this fungus are extremely 
