CHAPTER XXXI. 



SMUT OF CORN. 



Ustilago carlo, TuL 



THEEE are few fungi more familiar to agriculturists than 

 the common " smut " of corn, so common on wheat, bar- 

 ley, and especially oats. Its black colour, and its profusion 

 of sooty spores produced on impoverished ears of corn, 

 makes it apparent to the least observant. It appears 

 earlier in the season" than bunt, with which it is some- 

 times confounded by rustics. It is in some places called 

 "bunt ear," "blackball," "dust brand," and "chimney 

 sweeper." Its scientific name is Ustilago carbo, Tul. The 

 generic name is derived from Ustio, a burning, and carbo, 

 charcoal, in reference to the burnt and sooty appearance 

 of the diseased panicle or spike. Farmers look on this 

 fungus with less dread than the fungus of bunt, perhaps 

 because the last is virtually a hidden foe and may cause 

 unexpected sudden and serious loss, whilst smut is always 

 seen, and indeed, makes itself obtrusively apparent. In 

 some districts the loose smutted panicle of oats is ignor- 

 antly termed the male plant, the spores of the fungus 

 being esteemed as black pollen, and so more beneficial 

 than harmful. As there is no disgusting odour belonging 

 to the " smut" fungus, it does not spoil the flour to an 

 equal extent with the Tilletia. It is probably not 

 very injurious if taken in food by animals, as fowls 

 are not injured by eating smutted grain. It has, 

 however, been said that the straw of corn that has 

 been infested with the smut fungus is distasteful to 

 cattle in chaff. In bad cases as much as one -third of 



