Localities in which Pellagra is Prevalent. 73 



The fifth and sixth ears received with the above and 

 still in their husks are utterly destroyed by the fungus 

 Diplodia zese, the kernels being brown and dead, the cobs 

 spongy and brown from base to tip, in one with a whitish 

 mycelium between the husks and a sooty discoloration on 

 their outer surfaces near the tip. Both are injured by the 

 corn worm, but the Diplodia evidently came up from the 

 shank. 



These sample give a good idea of the condition of moldy 

 corn everywhere in Kentucky. Since pellagra has been 

 under discussion the writer has examined such corn from 

 a good many counties representing all parts of the State. 

 From the mountain section samples have been examined 

 from Letcher, Knott, Laurel, Bell, Wayne and Whitley. 

 Other samples represent the central and western sections, 

 coming, some of them from Fayette, Kenton, Jefferson, 

 Warren, Taylor, McCracken and Fulton. They have not 

 been fully studied, but examinations and cultures indicate 

 the general distribution in Kentucky, from Letcher County 

 to Fulton, of the fungus Diplodia zess, of the pink fungus 

 and of a Fusarium producing a white cottony growth, and 

 of the green Aspergillus. The distribution of the corn ear 

 worm coincides with that of the latter fungus and with that 

 of the pink mold, these fungi being most common where the 

 worm does its greatest mischief. Accordingly, Jefferson 

 County, because of the large quantities of early table corn 

 grown there, is badly infested with both worms and molds. 

 The Diplodia zeae is not dependent on the openings made 

 by the worm, generally invading ears by way of the shank. 

 Its distribution is a little more general and its presence 

 more constant on corn of all sorts, as a result. 



For a number of years the writer has made a point of 

 inspecting the exhibits of corn at local and state fairs, both 

 with reference to the adaptability of varieties and with 

 regard to their susceptibility to disease. Corn infested with 

 the pink mold, and sometimes with Diplodia, has at times 

 been seen in these exhibits, and in some instances judges 

 have assigned the blue ribbon, and even the purple ribbon. 



