31 



gist to the Australian Government, who has made an extensive study 

 of this whole group of worms from various parts of the world. He 

 states " The extent of the damage done by gall-forming worms is 

 difficult to estimate. Much land in Europe has become so badly 

 infested that certain crops — for example, sugar beets — have to be 

 abandoned altogether. Not a beet root will mature. The plants 

 break the ground, languish a few weeks and then die. Were it pos- 

 sible to sum up in pounds, shillings and pence the damage done (by 

 nematodes) the total would probably amount to a fortune for a 

 nation." 



In Massachusetts the greatest loss is experienced in the raising of 

 greenhouse cucumbers. The comparatively soft, tender tissues of 

 the cucumber offer little resistance to their attacks, and while 

 the plant is not always killed outright the vines are weakened 

 to such an extent that the crop is greatly diminished. The amount 

 of damage done to tomatoes is not so severe according to our expe- 

 rience as that done to cucumbers, as tomatoes possess a firmer tissue 

 than the cucumber plant and for this reason appear to suffer much 

 less from nematode attacks. The roots of roses, however, are fre- 

 quently nematode ridden and the result is always disastrous as is 

 evidenced by their generally weak condition and lack of foliage. 

 Violets are also commonly affected with nematodes, and they are un- 

 doubtedly the direct cause of many of the difficulties with which violet 

 growers have to contend. One of our correspondents, an intelligent and 

 experienced gardener, writes as follows upon this subject : " x^fter 

 quite a little deliberation I have come to the conclusion that one-half 

 of the trouble in violets is due to nematode worms either in a direct 

 or indirect manner, viz., leaf curl in violets may be direct, by the 

 paralysis of the roots due to the action of the worm, and violet spot 

 is indirectly caused by insufficiency of nutriment to the leaf, causing 

 it to be weak there and immature, thus making it an easy prey to 

 fungous diseases." Nematodes are found less often upon cyclamens 

 and other greenhouse plants, although when they are abundant they 

 give rise to unhealthy conditions in the plant which are not easily 

 overcome and which greatly affect the beauty and value of it. 



