MAIZE. 129 



Maize Leaf Stripe (ffelminthosporium turcicum Pass.). 



This disease, which often injures maize, has heen recorded from Southern 

 Europe, Australia, and the United States. 



Small pale patches appear on the leaves, and continue to increase in size, 

 and run into each other, Eorming Large elongate patches, until finally the 

 greater portion of the leaf is covered, the mid-rib alone remaining rigid. 

 I - 3pots finally change to a light brown, often surrounded by a lighter 

 border, and at this stage are more or less covered with a very delicate dusky 

 mould. In some eases the hlotches become much elongated, and do not run 

 into each other. The attack varies with climatic conditions and varieties. 



This is a difficult disease to check. Burning the stubble when practicable 

 after the corn has been harvested will, to a certain extent, prevent future 

 infection. Rotation of crops is a preventive. Some varieties such as 

 Fitzroy are very resistant to this disease, while others are disease liable. 

 The selection of a resistant variety is perhaps the most practical solution 

 which can be offered to a farmer troubled with the disease. Mr. H. Wenholz 

 states. " There are no immune varieties, but the following are resistant : — 

 Fitzroy, Golden Nugget, Hickory King, and Golden Superb." 



Moulds. 



Upon maize which has been allowed to become and to remain damp, various 

 moulds speedily develop, the most commonly found genera being Mucor. 

 Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Fusarium. All of these rapidly develop 

 innumerable spores, and they may give rise to disease in animals or birds in 

 two ways — either (a) by direct infection from spores, or (&) by setting up 

 disturbances of the digestive or nervous systems when eaten. Direct 

 infection from spores is not very common, but birds may become infected 

 by the spores of Aspergillus fumigatus, the symptoms being listlessness, 

 moping, and disinclination to follow the rest of the flock. When made to 

 run they soon become exhausted and fall, and have great difficulty in 

 breathing. There is great thirst and a diminution of appetite. The birds, 

 become rapidly emaciated, comb and wattles become quite pale, and there is 

 intense diarrhoea. Very little can be done in the way of treatment in the 

 case of birds. To prevent the disease, do not feed mouldy grain. 



It must be admitted that experiments carried out by feeding animals 

 with mouldy maize have given contradictory results ; nevertheless, there can 

 be little doubt that feeding mouldy maize may, and frequently does, give rise 

 to disturbances of the digestive or nervous system more or less serious in 

 their nature, and that mouldy maize as feed for horses, cattle, or fowls is to 

 be avoided. 



Insect Pests of Maize.* 



Some twenty-eight species of insects have so far heen recorded as attacking 

 maize in New South Wales, and of these, some twelve (notably weevils and 

 moths) do their worst damage to the stored grain, while sixteen attack 

 the crop in the field. 



The chief damage to maize by insects naturally occurs in summer months. 

 The seedlings or the roots may be attacked by wire worms and white grubs, 

 especially crops planted in newly-turned grass land. The principal pests of 

 the foliage are "cut-worms" and other caterpillars, chiefly the Army Worm, in 

 addition to the leaf and silk eating Yellow Monolepta beetles. Then the cobs 

 and silk are subjected to the concentrated attack of the Ear-worm, Army Worm, 

 Monolepta, Yellow Maize Moth. Pink Corn-worm, and finally weevil and moth. 



•W. B. Gurney, F.E.S., Assistant Entomologist. 



