ROOT GALLS, OR NEMATODES. 189 



ous to really prove serious. It often happens 

 that some of the best flowering plants will show 

 quantities of nematodes on the roots at the close 

 of the season. So far as appearances go, such 

 plants show no indication whatever of disease, 

 and if it were not for the effect of the nematodes 

 it is very probable that vegetative growth would 

 have been so excessive as to have interfered seri- 

 ously with the formation of flower buds. We 

 look, therefore, on nematodes as in a measure 

 being able to keep the proper balance between 

 root growth and leaf growth. They act partly as 

 root pruners, so to speak, and by their action 

 have a tendency to cause the plants to throw 

 their energy towards flowering rather than towards 

 leaf production. We would not have it inferred 

 from this that we advocate encouraging the 

 attacks of nematodes, but we do not believe it 

 desirable to go to any great expense, such as 

 steaming the soil, for the purpose of holding them 

 in check. If the soil is properly handled and 

 allowed to freeze thoroughly once or twice in the 

 early part of the season, a large number of the 

 nematodes are probably destroyed. However, no 

 matter what action of this kind is followed there 

 will always be some present, but they need not 

 cause any serious uneasiness. 



We have experimented with sterilized soil 

 and have been able to grow plants practically free 

 from the worms. Such plants made a most 



