50 CORN AND GRASS. 
plants. . . . ‘The fields most affected are those sown late in the 
season, after the Turnip crop. The deficiency on my own fields will 
be at least two quarters per acre, and there are many a hundred acres 
round about as bad or worse.” 
On July 11th Mr. Usher wrote further :— 
“T have no doubt from your letter that the disease in the Oats is 
caused by the EKelworm, as a few weeks ago the characteristics you 
mention were much more distinct than now; the roots had consider- 
able sized bulbs, and a lot of short crinkled growths round them. I 
would be very glad indeed if you can suggest any remedy, as I am 
afraid when these fields are in Oats again two years hence there may 
be a return of the disease. Perhaps it might be as well to sow them 
with Barley, though that is very unusual here after Grass. I have an 
impression the worm does not attack Barley.”—(T. U.) 
Mr. Usher is quite correct in his view that these Kelworms do not 
attack Barley ; and his observations given above that the Oats ‘ had 
a fine dark green colour,” but a large part remained like Grass plants, 
are well worth notice. I am not aware of there being precise published 
record of the different tints of ‘‘Segged Oats,” though I have seen 
specimens of a deep green; but in the case of HKelworm-infested Rye, 
though some plants may become yellow and die, some may have a 
bluish green colour, and for a while look healthy, until some of the 
abnormal forms of the leafage being shortened, thickened, widened, 
waved at the edges, &c., make their appearance; and also, both in Rye 
and Wheat, some to general inspection may be small and grass-like. 
The above observations of the past year give a very good general 
idea of the yearly developments of Stem Eelworm disease. First, the 
early manifestations in deformed and decaying Clover-shoots; later 
on, the base-of-stem and leafage attacks of Oats; and attacks to both 
crops recurring where mischief had previously taken place; also some 
amount of estimate of loss per quarter; and likewise report of the 
widespread nature of the mischief. 
PREVENTION AND Remepirs.—In the case of this attack, the dressings 
which have been found most useful are various sulphates, as sulphate 
of potash by itself, or mixed with sulphate of ammonia and phos- 
phates; or, again, sulphate of iron has been found very serviceable 
with ‘‘ Stem-sick’’ Clover. 
Amongst the notes sent me at different times by reliable agricul- 
turists, sulphate of potash at the rate of one cwt. per acre has been 
reported as stopping disease in ‘“ Tulip-rooted”’ Oats, and a good crop 
following. 
A mixture of phosphates, ammonia, and potash (proportions not 
given) at the rate of three cwt. per acre at sowing time on land from 
