36 BEANS. [1900 



early iu the attack) would be serviceable which we find answer in 

 regard to other crops. 



One important point of prevention turns on the circumstance tliat 

 many of the Eelworms leave the plant in which they have fed when it 

 dries, or otherwise becomes unsuitable to them, and then live in the 

 surface of the land. Therefore it is very important that one kind of 

 crop subject to Eelworm attack should not follow a crop that has been 

 noticeably infested. Oats, Clover, Beans, and Onions are all liable to 

 attack, the two first very observably so, therefore care should be taken 

 that these do not follow in rotation where previous attack has been 

 observed. 



As a mechanical measure, ploughing with a skim-coulter, so as to 

 turn the surface thoroughly under, and leave it there, is a good 

 remedy ; but common ploughing, or such digging as only breaks up 

 the surface and scatters it, is of little service. " Trenching " is a perfect 

 remedy, but there is the practical disadvantage to be considered of the 

 cultivated and manured uppermost spade-depth (" spit") of soil being 

 buried down out of reach of roots of common crops, and the lower spit 

 of comparatively M«productive soil brought to the top. 



Eelworms are easily carried in earth from infested land. They may 

 thus be transferred to uninfested land in soil adhering to the wheels 

 of carts or barrows, or to farm and garden implements, or on the boots 

 of the labouDers or feet of horses. 



Infested fodder or litter is a common vehicle of transmission. 

 Where this material is carried to the fold or stable with the Eelworms 

 still in it, the wormlets are perfectly likely to live on, and be carried 

 out again to the fields in manure made from the litter, whether they 

 have or have not survived processes of digestion in the eaten in- 

 fested food. 



It is desirable to collect and burn stubble of infested crops in order to 

 destroy any of the wormlets or of their eggs which have remained 

 within. 



Special applications, which have been found most serviceable for 

 Clover and Oats, whether as preventives, as manure in the preparation 

 of the land, or as dressings to bring a crop over attack, and which 

 there is no reason to doubt would be equally serviceable for Beans, are 

 sulphate of potash alone, or as a mixture with sulphate of ammonia, 

 or both of these with phosphates. 



Sulphate of potash at the rate of 1 cwt. per acre has had a good 

 effect in stopping/ the disease and bringing a good crop ; — also at the 

 rate of about i cwt. per acre it has done well. 



.4s a manurial application, a mixture of about two parts sulphate of 

 potash, three parts sulphate of ammonia, and four parts of phosphates, 

 brought remarkably healthy plants, with few exceptions. 



