158 



VEGETABLE GARDENING 



the ground 

 the pollen 

 experiments 



liable to mold during the drying process, unless it is given 

 plenty of light and air. A good way is to tie the ears in 

 small bunches and suspend in a dry, hot, airy room after 

 it has ripened as nearly as may be on the stalk. 



Cutting off the Tassels. It has been recommended 

 to cut off half of the tassels from the young corn, on 

 that one-half the tassels would produce all 

 needed by all the kernels.. While some 

 have shown this to be true, many other 

 experiments show there 

 is little if anything to be 

 gained by the practice. 



Insects. Corn is quite 

 free from serious injury, 

 either from insects or 

 diseases. The most in- 

 jurious insects are the cut 

 worm and boll worm, for 

 discussion of which see 

 chapter on insects. 



Smut ( Ustilago maydis) 

 is almost the only disease 

 seriously injurious to corn. 

 It is a fungous disease 

 that works in almost any 

 part of the plant, causing 

 swellings which contain 

 black spores. When ripe, 

 the swellings burst and 

 the spores are scattered 

 to continue the disease the following year. There can be 

 no question that gathering and destroying the bunches of 

 spores by burning or burying them deeply in the ground 



Fig. 62. Corn smut. 



