246 
animals are injured or the scales broken the fungus eaters the 
wound and has been known to destroy thousands of fis 
single season. This is one of the comparatively few cases ae 
diseases of the animal body which are caused by fungi. We have 
some examples even among man, ringworm representing such 
a disease. 
HARMFUL PARASITES. 
InDIAN CoRN AND Its DISEASES. 
t now to call your attention to some of the diseases of 
the cultivated plants which are caused by fungi. The Indian 
corn is strictly an American crop and is, without exception, the 
chief of crops in this country at the present time. Corn is made 
use of in two ways: (1) As an animal food and (2) as a human 
food direct. Its use as a human food is of minor importance, 
since it is found more profitable to use this grain as a live stock 
In this way it is converted into beef and pork which is 
sent to our cities and more congested centers of population to 
be used as a food product. Anything which tends to reduce the 
corn-crop affects the price of meat, and we are all influenced 
by it whether we are interested directly in the cultivation of 
corn or not. 
Like most other cultivated plants the corn-plant is subject to. 
many diseases. The one which is of especial importance is that 
known as the corn-smut. Corn-smut first becomes visible as large 
puffball-like outgrowths which replace the healthy grains. This 
however represents only the fruit of the fungus. In the fall 
of the year these bodies which are known as smut-balls burst 
and the soot-like spores within fall to the ground in showers. 
There they lie until spring, when they germinate and produce 
a tiny thread. If perchance this comes into contact with a young 
corn-plant it penetrates its tissues and there grows for a time 
unseen. In the late summer when the corn-plant begins to send 
up large quantities of food to be stored in the seed for the nour- 
ishment of the young corn-plant, the fungus avails itself of this 
favorable opportunity and uses this food on which to mature its 
