Alfalfa, in Kansas. 353 



nitrogen "nodules," but their effect on the alfalfa plants is quite different. 

 The knots are full of egg-filled female nematodes. The vitality of the 

 plant is seriously impaired by their presence so much, in fact, that 

 eventually the roots rot and liberate the eggs into the soil. These soon 

 hatch and the worms penetrate the roots of other plants. It might be 

 stated here that the eelworms are known to attack hundreds of different 

 kinds of plants, and the total destruction of crops is frequent. Although 

 no specimens of alfalfa root knot have been found in this state up to the 

 present time, it is quite possible that this disease may occur in Kansas, 

 for the eelworm has been found attacking and ruining various crops in 

 this state, such as the tomato and cucumber, not only in the greenhouse 

 but in the field. (See Fig. 300.) 



MAMMALS IN RELATION TO ALFALFA. 



By ROBERT K. NABOURS, Zoologist, Kansas State Agricultural College. 



The pocket gopher is an extremely destructive underground enemy of 

 alfalfa. Besides the direct damage wrought by the actual consumption 

 of the roots, a large percentage of badly infested areas are covered up, 

 and the resulting mounds make difficult the harvesting of the crop that 

 is spared. During late years, due perhaps to the excellent conditions 

 afforded them by alfalfa fields, the gopher has multiplied greatly in num- 

 bers, and has spread its range over much greater areas than formerly. 



In general appearance the common gopher is short and stubby, from 

 ten to eleven inches from tip of nose to tip of tail, the tail being about 

 three and one-fourth inches long. The weight averages about twelve 

 ounces, the males being heavier and broader in the shoulders than the 



FIG 301. The Pocket Gopher 



