2yo 



Journal of Agriculture. 



[lo May, 1910. 



THE SMUT OF MAIZE AND ITS TREATMENT. 



D. McAlpine. Vegetable Patliologisi. 



The Smut of Maize is increasing in m.iny of the districts wliert- this 

 crop is hirgel\- grown, and it is becoming too common to escape the notice 

 of the growers, who are beginning to make inquiries as to the best methods, 

 of treatment. Since it was first observed in Xew South Wales in 189 1, 

 practically nothing has been done to check it, because its true nature was. 

 misunderstood, and the consequence is that it is slowly but surely gaining 

 ground. I am indebted to the Commonwealth Statistician for the following 

 table, which shows that while Victoria is very much behind Xew South 

 Wales and Queensland in the total area of maize grown for grain, the 

 average yield is considerablv higher. During the seasOiT 1908-9, there 

 has been the large.st area \et recorded for Victoria, but it is also the 

 smallest average, and attention must be paid, not only to a rotation of 

 crops, but to the prevention of any disease which .reduces the yield. 



Acifa'fe under Maize. 



,A\eia^"e Yield iier aere. 



S.ate. 



Victoria 



Xew South Wales 

 Queensland ,. 

 South Australia 

 Western Australia 



10,844 



160,980 



127,11!* 



549 



87 



The smut has not yet found its way into the new districts being opened 

 up for maize-growing, but in the old established districts, it is more or less 

 common in every paddock. I therefore propose to give such an account 

 of this smut, as will enable growers to understand liow it is jiropagated 

 and spread and to adoj)t mea.sures for checking it. 



Two Maize Smuts. 



When the , Smut of Maize was first discovered in Au.stralia, it was 

 naturally considered to Ije the Corn Smut common in America and named 

 accordingly, but when its true cha.racter was determined it was found to 

 be quite a different smut. While in some cases the determination of the 

 particuhir fungus will not help us much in the way of treatment, in others, 

 where its nature and mode of attack are known, it mav afford a clue of 

 considerable value. " What's in ,a name? " is a question often asked, 

 as if it mattered little; but in this instance it will be .seen to iia\e important 

 bea,rings on the result. 



The common maize smut of America, or American Corn Smut, as T 

 have called it, for the sake of distinction, makes its appearance on anv 

 [)ortion of the plant above ground and gives rise to smut-boils which mav 

 .sometimes, as in the ca.se of the cob, attain the size of a man's head. 



