The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-12-26
:Farm-@arnen-Nousebola.



The news comes to us from various parts of tho
country, that cattle are dying in large nnnbsrs
since they have been turned INTO the fields from
which the corn has been gathered, and it is gen.
orally believed that the OF their death is to
be attributed to their eating smut. As every far
mer ia aware, this smut il liable to make its ap-
pearance on various parts OF the stalk, leaves,
and especially the ears OF corn, in the form of
a dark, spongy growth, sometimes of blush
black or purple color. This substance increases
very rapidly in size, and sometimes forms masses
five or six inches in diameter. The growth of
this variety of fungus on tho corn is usually at
tributed TO wounds and bruises on the corn plant,
inflicted during the process Of cultivation. The
sweet nitrsgized sap out and receives one
or more spores which are floating in the air or,
in the opinion OF some spontaneously develops
this parasitic vegetation. This species of fun
gus growth seems to be more frequent in seasons
when there extremes of heat and cold, and of
moisture and dryness; and in the opinion OF
many intelligent farmers, it is much more com.
mon than formerly. 1t is affirmed by some that
the application of salt to the land will insure the
crop against the appearance OF this species OF
disease.
Cattle will rarely, if ever, touch stalk or leaf
Of corn in which this substance has appeared !;
but when quantity of it is surrounded by husks
and is mixed with the prongs OF ears partially
covered with corn, they will eat it readily for
the sake of the nutritious matter that it enclos-
% or is mingled with it, As this smut is imper-
vious to water, it will remain dry in the stomach
of the animal, and in no condition to be raised by
Illumination Some think that 1t simply causes
an inflammation of the mucuous membrane Of the
first stomach, as other indigestible substances
would while Others believe that 1t engenders
the production of other fungi which result in the
decomposition of the blood and of the animal
tissue.
Recently disease has broken out in Story
county, Iowa, among the cattle that have been
turned among the corn stalks. At least hun
bred have died several farmers having lost AZ
many ten, and smut was very abundant in
the fields IN which the animals feeding, it
is generally thought that At was the occasion Of
the malady. Professor Townshcnd, of the Iowa
Agricultural College, and Doctor Sprague, Of
Ames, made post norton examination of four
OF these cattle, and gave an opinion adverse to
that which generally held In the comInu-
nifty.
Whether these gentlemen were right wrong
in their opinion, it is certain that till the effect
OF snut on the animal system has been determin-
ed with degree OF certainty, by experiment and
scientific investigation, farmer, cannot be too
careful about turning their stock into corn fields
where smut is known 20 exist. Pains should be
taken during the cultivation OF the crop to re-
move all these excreseuces as they appear
so that the spores which they produce shall not
be carried about the field. At the huskng sea-
son it will De comparatively easy to cut off every
stalk, leaf or which the sIaut has made its
appearance, and either bury them a considerable
distance in the ground, or what is better, apply
the torch 10 them Tor it would not be advisable
to carry them through the field in order TO burn
them.-{'r0srie Farmer