50 The Action of Enchytraeid Wo7ins 



presence is never occasion for alarm, and even if they were inadvertently 

 swallowed no injurious effects need be feared. A report will appear 

 in Science Progress for July. 



The following details of observations and experiments have been 

 selected from a large number which have been carried out, as they 

 tend to the elucidation of the foregoing report. 



1. Antirrhinum Cultures. (1) The object was to determine whether 

 or not Enchytraeid worms caused failure and death. 



In December 1914, twelve plants were purchased from Messrs 

 Simpson, Florists, such as they were rearing for market. Six plants 

 were retained for control. The other six were inoculated with Enchy- 

 traeids which had been found associated with sickly plants and were 

 suspected of being inimical. The plants were kept in an Experiment 

 House at Edgbaston Botanic Gardens, and regularly watched and 

 examined. For a time the inoculated plants looked paler than the 

 controls, but eventually they showed themselves to be stronger. All 

 plants survived. In April 1915, the six plants were again inoculated. 

 Blossoms perfected at the same time on both sets of plants. On May 1, 

 the pots containing inoculated plants were examined, and found to 

 contain many worms, but the roots were all healthy. Plants were 

 then transferred to the Garden, and all treated alike with Enchytraeids, 

 but not one succumbed. 



2. Antirrhinum Cultures. (2) It was reported that Antirrhinums 

 were suffering from root worms at Droitwich. A visit was paid to the 

 Experimental Gardens, the plants inspected, and specimens brought 

 away with soil. The soil contained many Enchytraeids, but was also 

 full of Julus larvae and other suspects. These were removed, and the 

 plants repotted with all the Enchytraeids as found. One plant died, 

 the evidence showing that it was too weak to survive removal. The 

 others rallied and became very vigorous in spite of the worms. 



Slips taken from both these sets of Antirrhinum took root readily 

 and made healthy plants. 



3. Antirrhinum pests. While these cultures and experiments were 

 in progress many plants which were diseased at Edgbaston, Kenilworth 

 and elsewhere were examined. In the case of seedlings, forced in frames 

 and greenhouses, fungoid growths were the chief cause of failure. Out- 

 of-door plants suffered from various causes, but in no instance could 

 evidence be found for convicting Enchytraeids. 



