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. 
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