A. M. Taylor 263 



months following inoculation remained normal in growth and flower 

 production, and were setting fruit freely at the end of that time. 

 Neither did the roots and stems shew signs of the presence of the worm 

 when examined microscopically. 



To all appearances the results of these laboratory experiments are 

 identical with those of the previous section dealing with the inocu- 

 lation of the red currant and gooseberry. The cast skins point to 

 uncongenial surroundings and the limited number of living worms 

 strengthens that view. Absence of the most conspicuous symptoms 

 of distortion among the inflorescences, and the failure to find the worms 

 within the roots and stems of this host after a lengthy experimental 

 period, shew that it is at most highly improbable that this worm is 

 related to the nematode causing '"Cauliflower disease." 



On the other hand the worms appear to have led a slightly parasitic 

 existence on this host. It is important therefore that this experimental 

 work should not be given undue prominence but that it should be 

 if anything subordinated to those experiments carried on in the field 

 under normal conditions. 



Such experiments were carried out at Cottenham, Haslingfield and 

 Grantchester, districts several miles distant one from another, where 

 the black currant worm was found well established as a disease. 

 Strawberry plants of the varieties Royal Sovereign, Laxton and Presi- 

 dent were taken to these districts and planted directly under the 

 infected trees, and in all cases where infected basal wood was found, 

 plants were placed immediately against them. Eighteen plants were 

 allotted to each district and at frequent intervals diseased twigs were 

 cut from the trees above and placed in direct contact with the straw- 

 berry plants which it was hoped by these methods to infect. 



In the first season runners were made in great numbers by the 

 plants. Some of these were severed from time to time from the parent 

 plants and examined for the presence of worm, with negative results 

 on each occasion. The parent plants were allowed to remain undis- 

 turbed, but signs of the disease were looked for during the season. 

 They however flowered and fruited normally, although the fruits were 

 small owing to the darkened condition under which they had matured. 



The end of the first season shewed no sign of abnormal growth in 

 the plants or any symptom that would lead one to suspect that the 

 plants were suffering from the disease in question. 



Identical results were obtained during the following season througli- 

 out which inoculation was continued as before. By the end of the 



