Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-03-05
Science in Farming.

The smut of Indian corn is fully and
plainly considered in Bulletin II, Nebraska.
1t is shown that smut is not an active
poison, though sometimes harmful when
eaten by cattle. Smut consists of spores
which reproduce smut much as seeds re-
produce ordinary plants. Smut spores
may grow in manure and liquids in barn.
yard for an indefinite period. They enter
the corn when it is very young, penetrating
the soft tissues of the lowest joint and the
root of the small plant. Smut does not
pass from plant to plant in the corn-feld.-
Outdoor applications will do no good, for
the fungus is inside, and no application
will reach it. Therefore, great care should
be taken to keep the ground from becoming
filled with spores, a rotation of crops being
the best plan. Only seed perfectly free
from smut should be used, after immersion
in strong solution of blue vitriol, to kill
any spores that may adhere to them.
1t appears that the roots of the compliant
contain large amount of soda and iron,
especially at the period when the flowers
are being fertilized, these elements being
evidently needed for the perfection of the
flower and the proper formation of Seed
This is one explanation of the benefit
which in some cases has followed the use
of sulphate of iron solution On corn and
other crops. 1t is also pointed out that the
greater the proportion of ash in crop, the
smaller is its feeding value. The largest
amount of dry matter in the stem of the
whole plant was found on August 6, indi-
eating that at that date the plant was at
the height of its productive growth. This
was likewise true of the leaves, but not of
the ear. In fact, it appears that growth or
activity is maintained in the cob to the
last. The considerable increase between
Sept. 10 and Sept. II amounting to
twenty-four per cent of the total weight)
indicates clearly that crop of corn should
remain in the field as long as possible. the
weather permitting, to reach its greatest
perfection,-a point upon which practical
farmers will agree.
Schweitzer finds that the compliant takes
up nearly all the ash ingredients it needs
during the first stages of growth, and sub
sequeut additions are mechanically ab-
sorbed with the water imbibed by the
roots. This leads to the practical deduc-
ton that the compliant, to develop we'll
and profitably, must find during these early
stages of growth an abundance of easily
accessible mineral matter. Their presence
IN an insoluble condition then or later will
not make up for any deficiency felt or ex-
perienced at that time. The young plant
also takes up nitrogen with great regu.
larity. 1t is pointed out that one-fourth of
the ash and One-half of the nitrogen con.
tanned in the entire crop was removed in
the ears, leaving three fourths Of the ash
and one fourth of the nitrogen in the fod-
der to be returned to the soil in the manure
of stock intelligently fed. The election of
pollen by the corn tassel is spontaneous
and may be readily seen on perfectly dry
and hot days. The large amount of soda
in the ash of the flowers, male and female,
supports the idea that it is an essential ele-
ment to the flowers proper development.
The arsenites, such as Paris green, Lon
don purple. or pure arsenic, and carbolized
plaster, will protect against the plum
curculio, if they can be kept on the tree or
fruit If spraying is preferred, one pound
of Paris green to 200 or 800 gallons of
water is strong enough for the plum, and.
for the apple, one pound of London purple
to 200 gallons of water. Prof. Cook (Bul-
letin 55, Michigan) also refers to the injury
to trees by applying these poisons before
the blossoms fall. He finds London purple
more injurious to the foliage than Paris
grsen, and white arsenic worse than either.
Peach foliage is especially susceptible to
injury, and cherry foliage the least so.-
The arsenites, used just before a rain, are
more harmful than when used during a
drought. Spraying soon after the foliage
first appears is less harmful than when it is
delayed few weeks. 'For ten years
have sprayed both apple and plum trees in
May, and for several years with London
purple, often using mixture as strong as
one pound to 100, or even so gallons of
water. Yet, in most cases, no damage was
DONE" The injury to foliage is not fully
apparent until the fifth day, or later.
There is no danger of poisoning the fruit
or stock that may be pastured in the
orchard. = American Agriculturist for.
March.