CHAPTER VII 

 ENEMIES OF BROOM-CORN 



Weeds are very troublesome in broom-corn cul- 

 ture on account of the slow early growth of the 

 plants. For this reason the crop should be planted 

 on clean ground if possible, and every precaution 

 should be taken to keep the weeds in check until 

 the plants are several inches high. 



Broom-corn is sometimes attacked by a smut 

 (Sphacelotheca sorghi) which does great damage by 

 filling the seed heads with a mass of black spores. 

 This injures the brush as well as destroys the seed. 

 Like the smut of wheat this disease is transmitted 

 through the seed and may be controlled by the use 

 of formalin or by the hot water treatment. 



For the formalin treatment mix four ounces or 

 one- fourth of a pint of formalin (40 per cent) with 

 10 gallons of water. This will make a sufficient 

 quantity of the solution to treat 10 or 12 bushels of 

 seed. 



Place seed to be treated on clean-swept, tight floor 

 in piles of convenient size to be stirred throughout. 



Sprinkle the formalin solution from sprinkling 

 can or nozzle upon the pile, stirring to bottom of 

 pile, until all possible is absorbed. After a few min- 

 utes' interval repeat the operations of sprinkling and 

 stirring ; these are again repeated until at least three 

 quarts of solution per bushel of grain has been 

 absorbed. One gallon per bushel is not too much. 



27 



