SWEET CORN PROJECT 291 



Smut is the most widespread and destructive disease of sweet 

 corn. It is responsible for enormous annual losses to field corn. 

 Stems, leaves, tassels, and ears are attacked by the fungus. The 

 first signs are swellings covered with a whitish, glistening mem- 

 brane. Later the swellings break open and expose blackish, 

 powdery masses of spores. Corn smut is a difficult disease to 

 control. Removal of the smut masses tends to reduce the 

 amount of damage. They should be destroyed by burning. A 

 thick stand of corn is most liable to be smutted because crowding 

 interferes with circulation of air among the plants and produces 

 humid conditions favoring infection. 



1. What is the range of the corn ear-worm in the United States? 



CL:212. 



2. Name the common vegetables eaten by this pest. CL : 212. 



3. What is the feeding habit of the corn ear-worm? CL : 215-216. 



4. Describe fully several control practices. CL : 217-218. 



5. What are some other important sweet-corn insects ? 



CL: 218, 222, 225, 227, 228, 229, 233. 



6. How may developing corn smvi be recognized ? SH : 284. 



7. What measures may be practiced to reduce the injury from smut ? 



SH:286. 



10. Harvesting and marketing. — The quality of- sweet corn 

 depends very largely upon the stage of maturity when the ears 

 are pulled. The kernels should be plump and tender. If under- 

 ripe, flavor is lacking ; if over-ripe, the hard kernels are objec- 

 tionable as human food. Experience can soon be acquired which 

 will enable one to pull practically all the ears at the proper time 

 without examining the kernels of each ear. 



