F. W. (iAMIil.K 7 



in Northern India. On the west of this district at the head of the Bay 

 of Bengal, lie the extensive paddy fields of the Province, whilst on the 

 east is the great export rice-growing tract of the Irrawaddy Delta. The 

 investigation has been condncted chiefly by Dr Butler the mycologist 

 at Pusa, but it is to be hoped that the Indian Government will realise 

 the importance of having a trained helminthologist to prevent the 

 extension of what is perhaps the most serious blow that could befall an 

 oriental peasantry — the loss of the paddy crop. 



There is however no need to go so far afield as India to illustrate the 

 importance of research on soil Nematodes, and Mr Gilbert E. Johnson, 

 M.Sc. of Birmingham University, who is taking up this group, has 

 already shown by his interesting paper on unisexual families in the 

 Nematode parasitic in the earthworm {Quart. Journ. Micr. Sci. June 1913) 

 that there are many purely scientific as well as applied questions upon 

 which the study of Nematodes throws light. 



The part played by earthworms in regard to soil problems and 

 plant rearing has been very inadequately ascertained, and in this subject 

 further advances may be confidently expected. Enumeration of the 

 earthworm fauna has proceeded apace in this country of late, chiefly 

 through the enterprise of the Rev. Hilderic Friend and collectors inspired 

 by him. The result has been a marked increase in the known micro- 

 forms or Enchytreids, whilst a careful descriptive account of the structure 

 of Enchytreus pellucidus by Mr H. H. Stirrup, M.Sc. {Proc. Zool. Soc. 

 1913) has added much needed anatomical evidence on certain points 

 though it leaves the important question of the eggs and their mode of 

 deposition unsettled. What is wanted, however, more than anything 

 else with regard to this group, is an estimate of its effect upon plants 

 and soils. 



Coming now to the parasitic helminths, there has been a great in- 

 crease in recent work carried on chiefly by Dr Shipley and members of 

 the Grouse Commission in this country, in America, Germany, Italy, 

 and France. This has confined itself largely to systematic and ana- 

 tomical features and there is a great deal still to be made out with regard 

 to the life-histories of even the commoner Nematodes and Platyelmia, 

 whilst curative or preventive measures are as yet in their infancy. 

 Farm stock, poultry and game in most countries are more commonly 

 infected with these verminous parasites than is generally supposed. 

 The farmer may know the fact well enough and he often finds a cheap 

 and effective method of ridding his stock of these pests by the applica- 

 tion of a vermifuge in early autumn ; but it is not always that his stock 



