CAULIFLOWER DISEASE. 251 



Eelworm Disease. Aphelenclms fragarm, Eitz. Bos. 



The following observations refer to peculiar malformations 

 of growth caused by Eelworm presence so affecting the stems 

 and inflorescence of the Strawberry as quite to change the 

 characteristic appearance of the growing portions of the 

 plant when it should be running on into flower, and thus 

 ruining it for all useful purposes. 



From the circumstance of the buds (or the various portions 

 which should have formed the buds and flowering stems) 

 being so greatly swelled at the extremities, and also so 

 shortened and pressed together as greatly to resemble pieces 

 of Cauliflower placed amongst the deformed stems, it has 

 seemed convenient to give the name of the " Cauliflower 

 disease " to this form of Strawberry attack, in the same way 

 that "Tulip-root," "Pine-apple disease," or other names de- 

 scribing the shape of diseased growth, are given to malforma- 

 tions caused by the presence of other kinds of nematoid 

 worms (popularly known as Eelworms) in Oat plants. Carna- 

 tions, or other field crop or garden plants. 



The first observations of this very peculiar attack were 

 sent me from St. Paul's Cray, Kent, on May 23rd, 1890, by 

 Mr. Thomas May, with the remark that he was forwarding 

 me specimens of Strawberry plants from a field of fourteen 

 acres, of which nearly half the plants had gone like those 

 sent. These plants were greatly deformed, and I found Eel- 

 worms (and in a further supply of diseased Strawberry plants 

 sent me on May 28th, I found Eelworms in exceedingly active 

 condition) numerously present. 



On June 3rd (together with further supi^ly of specimens 

 from the same fourteen-acre field), Mr. May mentioned that 

 half of the plants were affected equally all over the field, 

 excepting on a half-acre, where there were Potato clamps 

 before planting, and where they had a large manure-mixen. 

 " These two patches," my correspondent wrote, " look well, 

 all but an odd plant or two here and there — about one in 

 fifty in these two patches ; the remainder of the field is just 

 about equal. The plants on half the field came from my own 

 old plants, and the other half from a neighbour's." With 

 regard to the origin of the infestation, Mr. May observed : — 

 " I am satisfied it has nothing to do with the plants when put 

 in ; they all grew well last season." 



In reply to my enquiries as to cropping or manuring the 

 field in the previous years, Mr. May favoured me with the 

 following report : — 



