ERGOTISED RYE GRASS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3002, 8 February 1881, Page 2

ERGOTISED RYE GRASS.

[To the' Editor of the Daily Telkgbaph.] Sir, —I enclose a sample of ergotised rye grass, gathered between Taradale and Meanee, for your inspection, and ask— knowing that ergot is a deadly poison and so plentiful—is it not probable that a cow might eat enough of it in a very short time to cause death P I have often noticed it is those cows that are near their time for calving that drop down and die, which points strongly to ergot as the cause of their death. It is also to be noticed that while so many cows die, horses and sheep at the same time of the year are subject to the " staggers." Tbia can be explained by the fact that, when feed is scarce at this season of tbe year, the cows will eat the dry grass seed stems, while horses and Bheep prtfer a short bite of better quality, leaving the dangerous seed stems, comparatively speaking, alone, and also that of the latter a very much larger proportion of the males are kept, and the females are past that condition when ergot is so particularly dangerous. It iB also to be noticed, in support of the ergot theory, that it is always on the rich moist lands between Taradale and Meanee that most losses occur in this district (see Mr Pierce Power's report of last year), and it is on rich moist lands that ergot thrives best. I can only suggest one way of preventing ergot on rye grasss paddocks, and that is to mew down the seed stems when in flower or soon after; very little feed will be wasted by so doing, and perhaps a great danger averted. No doubt sowing other grasses in preference to rye grass might mitigate the evil to a great extent. Tiusting that the importance of the question will excuse my troubling you,—l am, &c, H.Gr. Taradale, February 7, 1881.