T. (;ooDKY 23 



Tlio followinjj; is a brief account of tlie rliicf cliaractpri.stics of flic 

 two diseases, the differences between wliicli are fairly well shown in tlic 

 two pliotograpLs at the end of this paper. 



Stem (lisea>ie caused by Ti/lencliKs dipsaci is chiefly characterised by 

 a stimtinfi a.nd deforming of the plant accompanied by much swclhug 

 of the leaf stalks at their base and of the stipules. The older leaves die 

 back and new leaves which develop, though frequently numerous, have 

 very short stalks, and the leaf blades are twisted and much wrinkled. 

 The leaf stalks and stipules are also very much discoloured. The plant 

 gradually dies back and is eventually killed, though the parasite does 

 not attack the root. 



The disease spreads slowly from an infective centre and persists 

 throughout the year, being most noticeable perhaps during the winter 

 and spring when the leafage is not profuse. 



Foliage rot of clover, or Clover rot, due to the fungus, differs from t he 

 eelworni disease in the appearance of the affected plants. The foliage 

 is first attacked and becomes covered with a white mould or niycehum 

 which causes the leaves and stems to turn brown and rot rapidly. The 

 spread of the disease is rapid, sweeping over a whole field in a few days, 

 especially when favoured by mild damp weather during autunm and 

 winter. There is no stunting or swelhng of the affected parts but just 

 a collapse and decay of the foliage followed by attack on the roots. 



If not too badly attacked, a second crop of clover may spring up from 

 the unkilled roots and a fair yield may be obtained. 



The disease does not apparently continue to attack the clover during 

 spring and summer. 



A certain amount of confusion seems to exist among agriculturists 

 as to the differences between these two diseases, b^it to anyone who has 

 seen the two conditions in the held the differences are very marked and 

 unmistakable. The confusion is partly exphcable on account of the 

 frequent association of saprophytic eelworms along with the fungal 

 foliage-rot disease. All these eelworms are different, however, from the 

 disease producing Tylenchus dipsaci and are free- living soil nematodes 

 which liave invaded the rotting clover tissue and have there found a 

 highly favourable medium for growth and multiplication. 



EXPERIMENTAL. 



!^ome preliminary experiments were carried out in which several 

 seedhngs of red clover, about 10 days old and showing the first true leaf, 

 were each inoculated with a single egg containing a well developed larva. 



