158 THE ROMANCE OF EVERIFARM 



properly preparing them for observation he took a 

 long look through the powerful lens. What he saw- 

 there made him shudder to think what the conse- 

 quences to the corn crop of the Nation would be if 

 this disease was not stopped. The magnitude of the 

 task was also apparent, as to attempt to destroy the 

 disease was also to destroy the life of the kernel. 

 What he saw through the eye-piece of the instru- 

 ment gave him some idea of the fight ahead, as in the 

 decayed part of the kernel, surrounding the germ or 

 embryo, the heart and life of the com, were to be 

 seen hundreds of the Fusarium spores, which were 

 quietly but surely causing the destruction of the 

 kernel, as they also had attacked the plumule and 

 rootlets. 



"Well, that is getting him located all right, but 

 what can be done? The moisture and heat neces- 

 sary to germinate the kernels in the soil at the time 

 of planting will also bring to life these dormant 

 spores, which wiU then destroy the kernels. I won- 

 der if some of the healthy ears of com do not have 

 these spores, as well as the more unfortunate ones, 

 but some of them are more resistant than others. 

 This appears to be the only conclusion, especially in 

 view of the fact that these spores are carried over 

 from one season to another within the kernel itself. 



