144 



TURNIP AND CABBAGE ROOT ATTACKS. 



of the Turnip Winter Gnat, also of the Eove Beetles, popularly known 

 as " Devil's Coach Horses," and there may very likely be presence of 

 Acari, or Mites, in great numbers. But none of these, nor yet the 

 presence of any other insect, or Mite, or worm infestation of any kind 

 whatsoever, causes the growth commonly known as Finger-and-Toe, 

 Anbury, or Club. This is caused by a Fungus, a " Slime Fungus," 

 the Plasinodiophora hrasslcm, scientifically, which infesting the roots, by 

 passing into them from infested soil or surroundings, gives rise to the 

 swelled and misshapen, and, in bad cases, ultimately putrid condition 

 of the diseased roots, which causes yearly widespread loss in field and 

 garden crops in many parts of the country. 



Ceutorhynchus sulcicollis. 



1 — 5, galls with maggots, nat. size and magnified ; 6, 7, weevil, nat. size and 

 magnified ; 8, leg of weevil, magnified. 



It is very possible — in all probability it may often be the case — that 

 Turnip and Cabbage-roots infested by Gall Weevils, or by Boot Fly- 

 maggots, or other insect attacks, may also be Finger-and-Toed, or 

 Clubbed, for there is nothing in the nature of the insect attack to act 

 as a preservative against the fungoid infestation. Also it is exceedingly 

 likely that Clubbed or Finger-and-Toed roots should be infested in 

 addition by insect presence. I know these attacks to occur coincidently 

 from my own personal observations, and in the words of Messrs. 

 Sutton, " When we cut open a large offensive Club, it is no unusual 

 thing to find it packed full of strange creatures, like a travelling 

 menagerie ! " * But all the same, each several kind of attack gives rise 

 only to its own special kind of mischief, of which the origin, the 

 history, and the effects are clearly distinguishable the one from the 

 others, and though Clubbed or Finger-and-Toed, roots may (as above 

 mentioned) be often found with insect infestation present, I am also 

 aware, from personal examination, that they may often be found 

 without it. Taking now, firstly, and in sufficient detail to make them 

 clearly recognisable, such of the insect infestations as are most 



• ' Culture of Vegetables and Flowers from Seeds and Boots,' by Messrs. Sutton 

 d' Son, p. 285, 



