Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-08-21
CCRNSTALK DISEASE.
It Promises to Seriously Affect the Corn
Crop in Several of the Western States

I
| Crop in Several of the Western States
| 1 was called recently to Fayette
/ County. Ohio, TO investigate a serious
injury to corn, present in many fields,
/ and suspected 10 be due TO insect. at
tacks- expected to find either the
corn-root louise or corn-root borer pres
ent- but the examination of large
number OF stalks showed that while
/ the first mentioned insect was at work
upon occasional plants, it was not near
l " abundant enough 10 cause the mis-
/ chief. No root borers of any kind were
J found, nor were other corn insects pres
ent in any considerable mum bers-
/ soon became satisfied that the injury
( was not OF insect origin. and on split
ting open the stalks found at the base
unmistakable evidence that the dam
age was due 10 a bacterial disease
which has lately attracted considerable
attention in Illinois. Nebraska and
other Western States 1t was first
found by Professors Forbes and BurriIl
II Illinois. and was described by the
latter in recent bulletin OF the expert
ment station OF that State. Pref. Bur-
rill says that his attention was first
called 70 il by Prof. 5. A. Forbes, IN
49, Al SNIN1C--s4S SVaLS- Las
also been discussed By Dr.. E. 5. Bill
lings, in Nebraska bulletins.
The disease IS shown by the sickly
condition OF the plants which are
checked in growth soon after coming
up. the lower leaves turning yellow and
dying. According 10 Prof. Burrill. the
first indication OF this disease in field
of corn as noticed in ordinary obserya-
ton is the dwarf condition OF the
young plants. This commonly occurs
il spots Of various sizes, from a few
rods 10 an acre or more, and often.
though by no means always. on soil of
a character different from that Of the
rest ot the field. II seems hard TO de-
signate what special condition Or quail
ity OF soil is most usually associated
with the disease; but, upon the whole.
II is found in rich spots rather than
those of poorer quality In many cases
1t IS upon the lowest ground whether
or not water has temporarily stood in
the hollows. Young diseased plants,
besides being smaller than the healthy
ones, are uniformly yellowish in color.
the lowest leaves showing worst. When
the affected plants are pulled from the
ground they are found 20 give way too
easily. ii consequence OF the death
of the Oldest and lowest roots In Sc
we're cases at least one-haIf the roots
always the lowes.-are injured and usu-
ally dead. The bottom portion Of the
stalk IS likewise affected, and will be
found dead or dying. If split lo2gitud-
inaly through the middle, the inner
tissue Of this lower par, is seen 10 have
a uniform dark color. and a similar dis
coloration, gradually becoming less and
less pronounced. appears in the next
succeeding nodes or joints while the
spaces between them internodes) are
seemingly healthy. On the surface.
when carefully freed from dirt. brown
ish cor-oded spots can be found, some
times strictly bordered, again difusely
Spreading"
As 70 remedies for the disease. I can
only quote Prof Bar-i!l again, who
SAYS: We know TOO little OF the disease
20 be able 70 suggest a remedy. There
appears % be il = considerable number
OF cases more injury on land which has
been planted with corn the preceding
year. though the rule does not always
hold good. n one case the worst re-
suits followed when timothy sod had
been broken up and corn planted there
on: while a timothy pasture not far dis
tant treated in the same manner gave
thoroughly healthy crop of corn.
Grass and weeds have been carefully ex-
amined without finding Indications that
the same disease affects them. Prob
ably the bacteria live over winter in the
soil. II this is fact, then young corn
would be liable to suffer when growing
on land upon which the preceding crop
was diseased. When it is definitely
known whether any thing besides corn is :
affected. we shall be better able a. least
to theorize upon cure. "-Clarence NJ. .
Weed, in Ohio Farmer.