ERGOT.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 242, 27 January 1875, Page 2

ERGOT.

“Old Colonial” thus writes in the Weekly News : —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 Province of Auckland, although peculiar affections were observed amongst sheep and cattle, which might or might not have been produced by cattle and sheep having eaten grass or hay, amongst which the poisonous fungus ergot prevailed. I asked my fellow-set-tlers 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 one speak of the subject. However, I 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 I first observed it, when it became very evident that the minute spores of the fungus had been widely distributed. Many of the ergotised seeds are but in their first stages of development, and might readily be passed by many as nothing uncommon; but the fungus is there. I brought a 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 might be able to recognise it when seen. The examination I have since made but too plainly indicates that the rye grass pastures for a considerable distance around Auckland are infested with ergot. Next year the fungus will likely be more general than it is this year, and the time is probably not far distant when Auckland settlers may have to make considerable changes in the seeding of their grass paddocks. The nature of the Auckland climate, and our gentle autumnal and winter rains, will be more conducive to the development of the second stage of the growth of the fungus that are the frosts and snow of northern Europe. We may, therefore, reasonably anticipate that once well established it will prevail here to a greater extent than in colder countries, unless there be some natural agent in this province which will limit the growth of this highly detrimental fungus.