STEM EELWORMS. 47 
In the case of Helworm attack to Oat plants, the diseased growth 
is known as ‘‘ Tulip-root,” or as ‘‘ Segging,”’ or ‘‘ Sedging,” according 
to whether the base of the Oat-stem is swollen 
so as to resemble a Tulip-bulb in shape; or 
the leaves are so modified in shape, especially 
in the waviness of their edges, as to resemble 
those of some kinds of Sedges. 
In the ‘‘ Tulip-root”’ form of disease, the 
swelled base of the stem has usually a number 
of small swelled doubled-up shoots, pale in 
colour, and curved to and fro, growing from 
beneath it (see figure). This is a common and 
very well marked form of Kelworm disease. 
The ‘‘segging’”’ is perhaps not so well marked, 
still the general likeness to the Sedge-leaf, and 
especially (where the development takes place 
to any great extent) the ‘‘crinkled” or waved edge of the leaf is a 
sufficient guide to the nature of the attack. 
The following notes refer to some very characteristic specimens of 
both ‘“Tulip-root’’ and ‘‘Segging” in Oats, sent me on May 13th, 
from Lawrence End, Luton, Beds, by Mr. George Oakley, who wrote 
as follows :— 
‘¢ They were sown in February, came up strong and well, but have 
gone off all over the field. I gave them a dressing of nitrate of soda 
and salt, but the drought has prevented it doing any good. The Oats 
were sown after a fallow fed off by sheep; but the adjoining field, 
sown the same day, and the same seed, after a crop of Wheat, looks 
as well as I could wish. I can find no Wireworm ; and as this field 
went off in a similar way about six years ago when Wheat, I am 
anxious to find out the cause.” 
On May 21st Mr. Oakley wrote further :— 
‘‘The eels do not seem to be working now, as the Oats they have 
left are growing, but the field presents a very patchy appearance. It 
was thoroughly cleaned last spring, deeply cultivated and harrowed by 
steam, and was so dried through as deep as the soil went * that one 
would have thought all animal and vegetable life must have been 
destroyed. There was a good crop of Cole-seed fed off in the autumn 
by fatting sheep. I may say that the same parts of the field have gone 
off in a similar way before; in 1891 it occurred in the Wheat badly, 
but the Red Clover the next year was an excellent crop.’’—(G. O.) 
‘‘Tulip-rooted’’ Oat plant 
* Unfortunately the genus Tylenchus is one of those of which it was noted by 
Dr. Charlton Bastian that they possess ‘‘a remarkable tenacity of life and power 
of recovery after what seems to be complete desiccation.””—(‘ Monograph of the 
Anguillulide,’ by H. Charlton Bastian, 1864, p. 85.) 
