54 



farmers in practice, but a difficulty in the way of complete 

 acceptance of the idea was the inability to explain how sulphur 

 or sulphuric acid would have this action. An explanation is 

 now, however, afforded, Professor Webb, of Aspatria, having 

 found that the fungus requires an acid medium for proper 

 development and the point now seems not only proved, but 

 explained."* 



It has been noticed that this affection is worse upon wet soils, 

 and upon heavy soils undrained. This has been proved in 

 Victoria, as shown by the following passage in the Report of the 

 Victorian Department of Agriculture. " Where the soil was of a 

 deep and somewhat moist black, sandy nature, and free from 

 st agiiant water, there was generally no club, but in heavy, shallow 

 soil, with a clay bottom and stagnant water allowed to remain, 

 there the club was yery prevalent." 



* Annual Report of Agricultural Eesearch Asssociation for the North-eastern 

 Counties of Scotland, 1891. 



