lo ^Tav, 190Q.] 



Dodder Infested Potato Plants. 



313 



Recognising the importance of the discovery, the Chief Veterinary 

 Officer, Mr. S. S. Cameron, M.R.C.V.S., forwarded the specimens and 

 the following letter to Professor Ewart, Government Botanist : — " One of 

 iriy supervisors (Mr. Connor) the other day came across a patch of potatoes 

 heavily infested with dodder. The incident has created a considerable 

 amount of interest amongst officers of the Department, and I would be 

 glad if you would examine the sample sent along with a view of classify- 

 ing the dodder. 



Last year, at Geelong, one of the supervisors (Mr. G. Harmer) found 

 weeds such as Cape Weed and Dandelion, badlv infested, and it appears 

 to me of importance to know whether this is the variety of dodder that has 

 hitherto been supposed to attack leguminous plants only, or another variety 

 which, is apparentlv cosmopolitan in its tastes." 



Professor Ewart has replied as follows: — "The specimen of dodder 

 forwarded is Cusciita epithymum L. European dodder. It is not usual 

 to find it on the potato, but this species and also Cuscuta eurofcca L. will 

 grow upon almost any herbaceous stem. The effect on potatoes is as bad 

 as upon lucerne or clover. Immediate eradication, burning all refuse, is 

 desirable. 



Dodders are not confined to Legiiminosce, although one variety, clover 

 ■dodder, " C. trifolii,^^ usually grows only on clover; another, flax dodder, 

 C. efilinum, usually only on flax. The general preference nf dodders for 



STEM OF POTATO PLANT WITH DODDER ATTACHED (ENLARGED). 



Lcguniiuosa: results from the fact that these plants readily provide the 

 nitrogenous food which dodders especially need. 



C. epithymum is proclaimed for the whole State. C. eiiropcca has not 

 hitherto appeared in this State, although large quantities of seed of the 

 other European dodder are imported annually." 



