212 



FUNGI AND FUNGICIDES 



by a close, very white, felt-like fungus. Possibly this 

 fungus sometimes makes its inroads into the ear without 

 the bacteria as forerunners ; but from present knowledge 

 it seems probable that it is a secondary intruder. These 

 moldy ears are, in certain seasons, very numerous, and 

 are readily recognized by the husker, as 'well as by the 

 buyer, when the loads are sent to market." 



Microscopic Characters. When placed under a 

 very high power of the microscope, the juices from 

 affected portions of corn plants are seen to be swarming 

 with minute bacteria. These bacteria, when magnified 



FIG. 87. BACTERIA OF CORN DISEASE. 



nearly three thousand times, resemble Fig. 87. Each 

 individual measures less than one-twenty-five thousandth 

 of an inch in length. They frequently form jelly-like 

 masses on the inside of the leaf, these masses consisting 

 of the bacteria themselves held together by the mucilag- 

 inous substance they exude. 



