Although it has been generally believed that corn is Jess subject to the attacks of fungus than any other agricultural crop, it is estimated that corn smut, corn rust and bacterial disease damage the crops in Iowa to the extent of $8,000,000 annually. In 1914 the attention of the Botanical section of the Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station was called to a new and important disease attacking corn which was later found to be wide spread in the state, working great damage.