The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1896-08-27
Corn Smut Not Dangerous.

Agricultural college. deals with the
cornstalk disease AS to the theory
that this trouble is caused by the corn
smut it says:
A very common theory that has been
held for some time is that the disease
is caused by eating corn smut (Ustilago
maidis). Corn smut is fungus which
attacks the growing cornstalk or ear
OF corn. AS the corn natures the smut
is readily recognized by the presence
OF large dark brown or black masses
OF spores. Cattle will often eat this
corn smut quite readily, whether it is
on cornstalks or corn in the field, or on
fodder that has been cut and cured.
AS the cornstalk disease does not occur
IN cattle that ere fed on corn-fodder
even when the fodder contains unusu-
ally large quantities of the fungus. in
olcates that the corn smut is not espe-
claily injurious to cattle, and expert
mental evidence proves conclusively
mat corn smut is not injurious to cat
tie. In 1868, Prof. john Gamgee, in
investigating the cornstalk disease, fed
experlmentally 40 pounds of corn smut
to two cows, beginning with six and in
creaslng to twelve ounces daily. The
smut was fed with ground grain and
chopped hay. To one COW it was given
wet, to the other dry. The COW that re-
celved the wet ration gained in weight
during the trial, the other lost in
WGlRnf hl1t both remained We'll
Several years ago Mr.. John Booth, a
farmer living north from Manhattan.
being of the opinion that corn smut
was liable to produce the cornstalk dis
ease, took pains to gather the smut
from the field. One night his cattle
broke into the Enclosure where the
smutty corn and smut had been thrown
out and ate all they wished; no injuri-
Gus effects were noticed. The Bureau
Of Animal Industry of the United
States Department of Agriculture made
two experiment Of feeding corn smut
to cattle under the direction of DR.. F.
L. Kilborne, as follows:
The load of cornstalks affected with
smut Ustilago maidis) removed from
the field used in the preceding expert.
ment page Az were fed to three-twO.
year-old steers placed separately in boz
stalls in a barn on Mr.. McCleary's
farm. The animals had been in a corn.
stalk field for about five weeks prior tc
the feeding. They were fed exclusively
on the smut-laden cornstalks and free
Snnrf Ynivod NTH nr,onfifv nj
a mixture of corn meal and wheat
bran for seven days without ill effects
Owing to the absence of necessary ap-
planes the weight of the animals and
of the smut fed was not taken. 1t is
safe to say that these animals con-
sumed much greater quantity of smut
than the animals which died in the
field. It was observed that the ami.
mails did not eat the smut readily in
the field, and in this experiment the
animals refused it until apparently
hunger compelled them to eat. The
mixing of mill feed with the pure smut
made it more appetizing, and conse.
Quently a much larger quantity wa:
eaten than otherwise would have been
The fact should be borne in mind that
the smut used in this experiment came
from a corn field in which several ami.
mails had died within five days after
they were turned into it.
(O In December, 1893, six barrels o.
corn smut were collected from severa.
corn fields in which cattle had not beer
Won Mofor
shipped to the experiment stations OF
this bureau. This material comprised
both abortive ears with the husks at.
tackled by the smut and the masses o.
pure smut found growing on the stalks
The total weight was 2SO pounds, OF
which at least one-haif was smut
Two heifers, Nos. 23S and 2S4, Is to Il
months old, were placed in separate
box stalls. They were bedded with peat
moss instead of straw, in order thai
their food should consist exclusively
of the prescribed ration. They were
allowed to run in a small yard Q6 by
80 feet for about five hours daily /,
During the experiment the animal:
were given all the we'll water they
wished. They were not sailed. The
smut was apparently not relish |
ed by the heifers, especially by No. 23S
so that it required considerable in. |
ducement TO get them to eat the de-
sired quantity. Beginning on the
of January II, 1894, and con
tinuing until noon of February Q6K |
days., the heifers were fed morning anG |
evening with from two to three quart: |
Of mixture Of equal parts by weight |
Of cut hay and a mixture of corn-mea |
niddlings and wheat bran, and II |
quarts of smut. The actual quantity O. |
the fungus consumed by No. 238 was 81 |
pounds, or daily average OF nearly !,
three and seven-tenths pounds, anC |
by No. 2S4 67iia pounds, or daily aver |
age of four and one-fifth pounds. The |
of the animals were |
taken every morning and evening |
The animals appeared to be perfectl, |
we'll throughout the time of feeding |
and continued so for several months |
Turing which time they were KEEP |
under close observation.