72 HATCH EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



handling, etc. In one bed, 600 feet in length, were grown 

 all the varieties of this plant obtainable from the leading 

 seedsmen of the country, over 300 in all. This plant is 

 very generally affected by a number of serious troubles, most 

 prominent of which is a disease of a peculiarly obscure nature. 

 No organism of any kind appears to be the cause of it, yet 

 it has a very characteristic as well as destructive effect. Our 

 most recent results indicate that the abnormal development is 

 due to a disturbance of the assimilative (metabolic) functions 

 of the plant. The conditions, however, which bring about 

 this disturbance, seem, as shown by our results thus far, 

 contradictory and obscure. At least three other diseases, all 

 of a fungous nature, also attack the aster, with serious effects. 

 These can be more readily understood, if not prevented. 

 Complaint is made from all parts of the country of trouble 

 in growing this popular flower. 



Nematode "Worms. 

 A peculiar disease on potted cuttings of perennial phlox 

 was sent in during the past winter, which proved to be caused 

 by a species of nematode, but quite diflerent from that attack- 

 ing the roots of many plants, to which this division has 

 devoted considerable attention. This new form attacks the 

 stem of the plant, causing there an abnormal enlargement, 

 while the leaves arc stunted or reduced to mere rudiments, 

 and the plant generally dies. The worm causing the mis- 

 chief is a slender creature of microscopic size, which embeds 

 itself in the tissues of the stem, where it multiplies rapidly 

 and produces the abnormal growth. The species is an un- 

 described one, though it appears to be the same as that men- 

 tioned by several writers as attacking the stems and leaves 

 of plants. This is the only occurrence of the sort which we 

 have known in this State, and from its nature it does not a]v 

 pear to be anything which will become generally prevalent 

 or destructive. 



Cucumber Mildew {Flasinojpara Ouhensis, B. and C). 

 This mildew made its appearance in Massachusetts during 

 the past autumn for the first time, so far as we are aware, 



