How to Harvest and Clean Ergot

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 63, Issue 5, 15 November 1941, Page 399

How to Harvest and Clean Ergot

By

J. E. BELL,

Land Utilisation Officer, Wellington

A T the time when ergot is most AT the time when ergot is most urgently required for the treatment of wounds, it is in short supply. Supplies which, in the past, were obtained chiefly from the mainland v of Europe have now been cut off. Ergot is obtainable from the seed heads of grass plants, but it is most prolific and most easily collected from tall fescue, a tall grass which flourishes in rich alluvial swamps, particularly in the North' Island. '

Harvesting and Cleaning

The ergot is ready for collection in December. From then onwards, it

can be harvested by cutting the heads with a sharp knife or sickle or by hand stripping of the heads. If the heads are cut they should be stood ion end in a sunny position against a house or shed or spread out on the ground or, better still, on sheets of iron, bags, or

canvas until they are thoroughly dry. On wet days and in the evenings it is advisable to place them under cover. When thoroughly dry, the ergot is threshed by tapping the heads sharply against a piece of wood, so that the ergot falls out with a minimum of grass seed. The hand-stripped ergot should be laid out on sheets of iron or other material until thoroughly dry. The mixed ergot and grass seed so obtained from the cut or stripped heads should then be winnowed to remove, as much as possible, all the foreign matter and to obtain as pure a sample of ergot as possible. In winnowing, as in all operations, care

should be exercised not to damage or break the 'ergot. Winnowing can be achieved, in the absence of a machine, by throwing the material in a draught of wind in the open, or such as is obtained through , an open'doorway. Bags should be placed on the ground to catch the ergot. Being heavier, the ergot will fall closer to the thrower, while the lighter seed, straw, and dust will float further away. The operation will probably require repeating several times to secure a reasonably clean sample.

Cleaning can also be obtained by throwing the mixed ergot and rubbish in a pail of water. The heavier and better-class ergot will immediately sink, and by judicious stirring, the remainder of the ergot will be induced to fall, leaving the straw, seed, and other light rubbish floating on top of the water. The floating material can then be poured off, leaving behind the ergot at the bottom of the pail. The ergot should then be thoroughly dried immediately in the sun. Purchasing Price The thoroughly dried pure or practically pure ergot should be put in air-

tight containers, such as tobacco tins, and taken to the nearest produce merchant, who will purchase it on the following basis:— Grade 1. 100 per cent, clean dry whole ergot, Bs. per lb. or 6d. per oz. Grade 2.— Not less than 80 per cent, clean dry whole ergot;, not more than 20 per cent, clean dry broken ergot, 6s 8d per lb. or sd. per oz. Grade 3.—Not less than 70 per cent, clean dry whole ergot; not more than 30 per cent, straw, seed, and foreign material, 5s 4d per lb. or 4c[ per oz. Grade Not less than 50 per cent, clean dry whole ergot; not more than 30 per cent, straw, seed, and foreign material; not more than 20 per cent, broken ergot, 4s. per . lb. or 3d. per oz. .

Here is an opportunity for service in alleviating the suffering of men who are fighting for us. It is an opportunity which offers itself particularly to children in country districts, and contributions of even 1 oz. will be welcome. Ergot from many grass plants is useful, but that from tall fescue in particular and marram grass is most valuable. Let us see that the tons of ergot which soon will be present on the tall fescue of our swamps do not fall to the ground unharvested. Tall fescue is easily recognised. It is a tall, upright plant with coarse leaves, the edges of which are liable to cut the tongue if drawn across it. The base of the stem next to the root and close to and slightly below the ground has a red colouration.

Export to Britain

After the ergot has been collected the merchants purchasing the ergot will forward it split into the four grades to a central merchant, where it will be inspected before being forwarded for machine dressing. After machine dressing the ergot will be exported to Britain. The Government ■has set aside £14,000 for the purchase of . ergot, and it is to be hoped that all this money will have been expended by the time the ergot harvest is over. The produce merchants are being put to a considerable amount of trouble in the handling of the numerous small amounts that are liable to come forward, and it is to their - credit that they have agreed to give their support to the scheme.

Note. Grades 2, 3 and 4 are subject to variation in price according to amount of broken ergot grains and chaff.