THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



741 



eelworm. Naturally, Heterodei'a can not be blamed for all sudden 

 yellowing and wilting of garden plants, for the gopher or cutworm in 

 feeding upon the roots will cause the same general effect; tbis work, 

 too, may be easily identified by examination. Varicuis bacterial dis- 

 eases will also cause a wilting and yellowing in plant life and in the 

 case of an attack of this kind the identity of the intruder is much 

 harder to establish, and will demand services of an expert. 



The effect upon trees is indeed variable in the many varieties that are 

 subject to attack. In the case of young trees and nursery stock, the 

 characteristic wilting and yellowing of the leaves is an indication of 

 the presence of the nematode. In grown trees there is no set rule 



Fig. 392. — Strawberry plant, very susceptible to nematode at- 

 tack. Note the terminal swellings on the rootlets ; the root has 

 been destroyed below the point of attack. (Original.) 



which can be applied and adequately mark the presence of this dis- 

 eased condition of the root system. Invariably the following quotation 

 accompanies nematode infested roots, which seems to hold true in most 

 all kinds of orchard trees: "My trees are not doing well; the leaves 

 are small and scattering, the limbs long and scraggly, and the fruit is 

 small and often off season." Root specimens received, accompanied 

 by this data, invariably show the presence of the eelworm. 



Young peach and fig are often killed outright by this pest if planted 

 in worm-infested soils. In the case of citrus trees there is much to 

 be learned and the investigators who are at work will undoubtedly 

 prove that the eelworm has a great deal to do with the poor condition 



