grains of barley, from which our illustrations were made. At Fig. 93 five of the "red corns," as maltsters term them, Fusisporium culmorum, W.Sm. Enlarged 400 diameters. Spore enlarged 1000 diameters. are illustrated twice the natural size. These misshapen "red corns are to a great extent covered with fungus 00.000 FIG. 93. Red corns of barley, with growths of Fusisporium hordei, W.Sm. spawn and spores, ranging in colour from pale orange to bright scarlet or deep cinnabar - crimson. The fungus itself, illustrated to the same scale as Fusisporium culmorum, W.Sm., is shown at Fig. 94. It will be noticed that many of the spores have broken up, as in the last, and formed little globular spores of a second series, as at AA. These are destined to rest for a short period. Other of the spores, as at BB, are germinating whilst still attached to their supporting threads,- —a common phenomenon in the genus Fusisporium. A single spore is enlarged to 1000 diameters at C. The cells at D belong to the flowering glume. Mr. Matthews states that the spawn of the fungus Fusisporium hordei, W.Sm. Enlarged 400 diameters. will run over paste made of crushed germinating barley, and throw up red patches from half an inch to threequarters of an inch high. The fungus is said chiefly to invade barley of poor quality and ill-conditioned crops and ears, seldom or never appearing on good sound barley. The germinal end of the grain is distinctly the part most seriously attacked, perhaps because it is the softest, being the spot whence the plumule and radicle of the young plant is destined to emerge. It is clear that no badly B E ५ affected grains can possibly germinate. In both wheat and barley the fungi when present give the grain a peculiar and disagreeable taste. Mr. Matthews states that when the Fusisporium is introduced into sterilised beer-wort it gives rise to sluggish ferments, producing alcohol and carbonic acid gas. This species may be named Fusisporium hordei, W.Sm., and described as follows:-Mycelium rose - coloured crimson; torulose, effused, forming a thick gelatinous stratum, septate; spores fusiform, acuminate at both ends, 13 septate, rose-coloured, crimson, or cinnabar-red. On barley, forming red gelatinous patches. or The third illustration at Fig. 95 shows, natural size, an orange-coloured Fusisporium on the common and valuable perennial rye-grass, Lolium perenne, L. The spike illustrated is ergotised, and the example illustrated was sent by Mr. Chas. B. Plowright from Norfolk. The Fusisporium is shown at A, B, C, and D. Lolium perenne, L., is unusually subject to ergot, and it is remarkable that in the spike illustrated the Fusisporium was invading the ergot as well as the different parts of the spikelet and seed. Young ergots are shown at E, F, and G; others are hidden by the pales and glumes. This curious species is enlarged 400 diameters at Fig. 96, a single spore being enlarged to 1000 diameters at A; the illustration at B shows the mycelium running over the FIG. 95.-Spike of Lolium perenne, L., invaded by Ergot and Fusisporium Lolii, W.Sm. cells of the ergot. This species may be named Fusisporium Lolii, W.Sm., and described as follows:- Mycelium orange, torulose, effused, forming an orange gelatinous Fusisporium Lolii, W.Sm., growing on Ergot. Enlarged 400 diameters. Spore enlarged 1000 diameters. stratum; spores fusiform, acuminate at both ends, 14 septate, orange. On rye-grass and its ergot. It is quite possible that some species of Fusisporium may be parasitic in habit. One species, F. mucophytum, W.Sm., grows on sound edible mushrooms; and F. obtusum, Ck., is described as parasitic on old fungi found under Diatrype, and a similar species with the last occurs in North America. CHAPTER XXVII. ERGOT. Claviceps purpurea, Tul. THE terrible effects of ergotised grass on animals that have partaken of it are so serious and so well known that a clear knowledge of the nature of ergot should be possessed by all persons interested in agriculture. Ergot has a powerful and immediate effect, and especially so when quite fresh, in exciting muscular contraction in certain parts of animals, notably the uterus. The same contracting power of ergot is no doubt the primary cause of the well-known gangrenous diseases always popularly associated with this substance. Ergot, by contracting the muscles, stops the flow of blood to the extremities, and these extremities, unsupplied with fresh blood, sometimes rot and drop off. The ergot produced by rye, Secale cereale, L., is one of the largest, best known, and probably the most potent, and this is the substance invariably used in medicine. Ergot is commonly termed ergot of rye, but the fungus growth is very common on other cereals and on many grasses. Amongst others it has been recorded in Britain as parasitic upon the following plants :-Mat grass, Nardus stricta, L.; catstail-grass, Phleum pratense, L.; foxtail grass, Alopecurus pratensis, L.; reed canary-grass, Phalaris arundinacea, L.; vernal grass, Anthoxanthum odoratum, L.; waved hairgrass, Aira flexuosa, L.; turfy hair-grass, Aira cœspitosa, L.; oat-grass, Arrhenatherum avenaceum, Beauv.; meadow softgrass, Holcus lanatus, L.; creeping soft-grass, Holcus mollis, L.; cocksfoot grass, Dactylis glomerata, L.; smooth meadow |