MARCH 



IRISH GARDENING, 



37 



strawberry plants ; this is Aphelenchiis fragari^, 

 Ritzema Bos * (Fig-. 2). The stems become 

 greatly swollen ; the stunted and crowded buds 

 either remain undeveloped, giving the aspect of 

 a small cauliflower, or give rise to monstrous 

 blossoms. The species of Aphelenchus are of 

 the same g-eneral form as Tylenchus, but the 

 intestine here begins immediately behind the 

 swollen pharynx, while the male has no bursa. 

 Aphelenchus fragarice is a smaller worm than 

 Tvlenchiis devastatrix, the male measuring- only 

 .6 mm. (:jij inch) in length and the female .75 

 mm. {J^^ inch). In the latter sex the vagina 

 (Fig. 2 A va.) is about 

 a third of the body- 

 length from the tip 

 of the tail. Unlike 

 Tylenchus devastatrix 

 which may be found 

 on plants of several 

 distinct families, the 

 present species seems 

 to be confined to the 

 strawberry ; it must 

 therefore be probably 

 in all cases introduced 

 with imported plants. 



Most remarkable 

 among eelworms is 

 Heterodera radicicola, 

 Greef, a species often 

 injurious on the Con- 

 tinent to the roots of 

 tomato, cucumber, and 

 other garden plants, 

 but apparently rare in this country. Only 

 last year did Mr. Southern determine the 

 species as Irish, finding- numerous specimens 

 in injured tomatoes from Belfast ; he kindly 

 allows me to make the fact known in Irish 

 Gardening. 



In the genus Heterodera the young wormlet 

 is elongate like the young- Tylenchus. After a 

 time, however, it becomes thick and swollen, 

 tapering at the head and with a pointed or 

 rounded tail. The male undergoes a curious 

 transformation, the next stag-e being elongate 

 and slender again, and remaining- for some time 

 coiled up within the cuticle of the preceding 



* Zeitsch. /. PJIansenkra?ikhei/en, vol. i., 1901, p. i. 

 See also E. A. Ormerod's "Report of Observations of 

 Injurious Insects" 1890, p. 126, and G. H. Carpenter in 

 Eton. Proc. R. Dublin Sue, vol. i., p. 338. 



Fig- 3- 



stage. Emerging- from this, it is in the adult 

 condition, the tail being bluntly rounded and 

 without a bursa. The female retains, however, 

 the swollen form of the larva, becoming, as 

 growth proceeds, larger and broader until, 

 when adult, she resembles a bladder or lemon 

 in shape. These curious females are found 

 with the head-end buried in the root tissues and 

 the swollen body protruding. The young, 

 which are sometimes hatched within the mother's 

 oviduct, are brought forth in numbers, pass into 

 the soil and thence bore their way into the tender 

 roots. The effect of these worms is to cause gall- 

 like swellings to 

 appear on the roots. 

 Hence the worm is 

 often known as the 

 'Root-knot Eelworm.'* 

 Watering with a 5 

 per cent, mixture of 

 carbolic acid has been 

 recommended, but it is 

 doubtful whether any 

 strength likely to be 

 destructive to the eel- 

 worms would not be 

 also injurious to the 

 plants. Irish garden- 

 ers may congratulate 

 themselves that this 

 pest is uncommon in 

 their country. As in 

 many similar cases, to 

 be forewarned is to be 

 forearmed. Infested 

 plants should be ruthlessly burned and every 

 possible care taken against the importation of 

 tainted stock. 



* Sorauer's Handbuch der Fjianzenkrankheitcn, vol. iii., 

 p. 31. Also Ormerod's Report, 1893, P- 99- 



The late Professor Hillhoise. — Horticulture has 

 suffered a severe loss in the death of William Hillhouse, 

 M.A., late Professor of Botany at the Birmingham 

 University, at the early age oi fift3--five years. Mr. 

 Hillhouse took a great interest in field botany, in 

 forestry, and in gardening. He founded the Bedford- 

 shire Natural History Society, and since his appointment 

 to the professorshipof Botany at Mason's College in 1882 

 identified himself with the progressive activities of the 

 Botanical and Horticultural Society of Birmingham, oi 

 which he was honorary secretary. During his tenure of 

 office the new alpine garden wasformed and the lily house 

 reconstructed and enlarged. He was born in Bedford and 

 began his active professional career as a schoolmaster. 



Root-knot Eelworm {Heterodera radicicola, 

 Greef). 

 Female. B. " Resting stage" of male in larval cuticle. X 80. 

 [After Sorauer, from Stone and Smith.] 



