Insect and Other Pests. ie ES 
Wn 
toid worms, otherwise known as eelworms (Tylen- 
chus devastatrix), which are colourless and micro- 
scopic in size. They may be found 1n all stages from 
the egg to the eel-like creatures still rolled up in the 
egg shells, and liberated eelworms swimming about 
freely in the juices of the plant. (See illustration of 
eelworms. ) 
REMEDIES.—Cure is impossible after the plants 
are thoroughly infested with these destructive crea- 
tures. Not only are the lower leaves ruined, but the 
upper ones may be more or less distorted or flagging, 
especially after sunshine. This is generally a sure 
indication that the stem itself has also been pene- 
trated, and possibly the roots, by these nematoids, 
thus cutting off the necessary supply of water to the 
foliage. Eelworms are brought to the plants in a 
variety of ways, but the most fertile sources of infec- 
tion are from the soil, the manure, and by water, 
artificially applied. The eelworms may be in the 
tank or in the pond from which the water is 
obtained. 
As cure is impossible, the first aim of the grower 
should be to save the healthy portions of the plant or 
plants, if of any scarce variety, and otherwise worth 
the trouble. The healthy shoots should be layered 
at once, if that is possible, and the layers severed 
from the parent and lifted as soon as rooted. If this 
cannot be done, then cuttings should be taken of 
healthy shoots clear above the region of infestation. 
In the case of Malmaison, tree, and American Carna- 
tions this is the better plan. 
As soon as layers have been rooted in the open 
ground, or cuttings taken from pot plants, the old 
stools should be burned. The soil in pots should 
not be used again for anything, but taken to a dis- 
tance from the garden. 
Watering the plants with lime water should help 
in destroying eel-worms in the soil. | Vaporite 
sprinkled on the ground and pointed in should even 
prove more effective. The soil from which diseased 
plants have been taken in the open ground should 
receive a good dressing of either, or both, these 
ingredients, which serve to destroy these low 
organisms. Sterilising the soil, animal manures, and 
leaf soil before use should be adopted where eel- 
worms are prevalent and troublesome. 
Frog-Hoppers. 
The presence of these enemies in the larva state 
