ERGOT IN RYE-GRASS.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 32, 18 February 1875, Page 3

ERGOT IN RYE-GRASS.

, Old Colonial thus writes in the ; ' YVeekly News ':4-A. few months 'ago I drew attention to circumstances which led to - the -belief that farmers were likely to be subject to a very disagreeable pest, a pest greater than any which has yet been experienced here, I mean the prevalence of ergot in rye-grass. At the time referred to, the circumstances were related which led to the belief of its existence in some of the Southern . Provinces. At that time, however, no record, existed of.it. having, been found in the I^royince of Auckland, although peculiar affections were observed amongst sheep and cattle, which might or might not have been j produced by cattle and sheep having* eaten grass or hay, amongst which the poisonous fungus ergot prevailed. I asked my fellow-settlers to closely watch their pastures this summer, and report the first appearance of ergot in their pasture fields. As_yet no report has reached me, and I have heard' no j one speak of. -the subject. However, 1 am sorry to be in a position to inform them that ergot amongst the rye-grass in the vicinity of Auckland prevails -to' a large extent. I examined the. uncut, rye-grass for a considerable, distance around where T first observed it, when it became very .evident that the -minute pores of the fungus had been widely distributed. Many of the ergotised seeds are but in .their first st<ges of, development, and might readily be -passed by many as nothing uncommon ;. but the fungus is there. I brought a j few rye-grass stalks to the 'Weekly News' office, in which the ergot was developed in , different; degrees, ;so;that those .who were • unacquainted- ; with its appearance mignt be able ..to recognise, when seen. The examination I "have | since made* but too plainly indicates that the rye-grass pastures for a considerable distance around Auckland are infestecl with ergot. Next year- the fungus will likely be more^eiieral^fian it is this year, "and thejtim.fi is not ; far ;; dfe&tn&rehep Auckland settlers: may hav6^to,mak^cQnsideEable conges jriHhe Seeding, of; |heir grassj paddqpks,. THe| nature' of .'the f iandj our gentle "autumnal' arid 1 winter fains, will be more conducive tatne development of the second Tstaj*e : of the .grpwtnof |fie~"fun"gus ~thj^are7"li|ie" fcosis and snow 'of- -northern '•feu.mpe. -We; may, therefore, reasonably anticipate thatTomre welErestablislied it #ill~ iptfjeMrail here: ta-a "greaten extent than/in- > .tuQlej3Sdtßereibe. ; Bpnae.: natur.4 t^genl,i%4hi^ T^p^inoe > wlii^o ,wiU| Umit §ijs highly detiamental iungus.