ERGOT IN RYE GRASS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 289, 14 July 1875, Page 2

ERGOT IN RYE GRASS.

To the Editor of the Weekly News. Sir, —In your issue of Saturday last, I notice “ Old Colonial’s ” remarks on a letter I wrote you, and which, being couched in Scotch, you did not publish. My best respects to the old gentleman, and say I disclaim all title to having discovered ergot in the province of Auckland. I would as soon claim to have discovered caterpillars orcrickets, I found them here before I came. Certainly, it does appear strange to me that “ Old Colonial,” or any one connected practically with agriculture in the province, should look on ergot as a new thing. It is 15 or 16 years since I reaped my first crop of rye grass seed, in this province, and, not knowing what the purplish spurs on the rye-heads were, asked a neighbor (an ex-Midlothian farmer), who told me it was ergot. Since then, I have found itmorenr less each year —undoubtedly, the past season being worse than usual. Cocksfoot is far less liable to

ergot than rye grass, it beiug comparatively rare to find it affected. “ Old Colonial ” may, however (I have no personal acquaintance), be one of those who know more about a steel pen than either spade or plough, and be a better farmer on paper than on the ground, as used laughingly to be said of our worthy friend “ Old Practical.” In my former letter, I observed that I had found ergot (as all the fungus tribe) most prevalent in the neighborhood of fresh manure (green muck), and agree with “ Old Colonial ” that sourness in the soil induces it. So what more likely than an alkali (or alkaline earth) to counteract or neutralise the acidity ? hence my recommendation, or suggestion, to top-dress with lime or salt, as likely to check the evil complained of. I highly approve of drainage—deep, underground, drainage ; no good farming can be done without it. But 4 I have found ergot on well-drained 3 land in good heart, where sour from » fresh droppings.—l am, Ac., Jock fhae Buchan.