BEET EeLWORM. 59 



Nematode just above the lower extremity, and was slightly more in the 

 transverse length, — that is, across the wormlet, — than in the vertical 

 measurement. The edge of the opening was not at all torn, but very 

 finely corrugated, and on very gently pressing the Nematode in glyce- 

 rine beneath a thin glass covering, a number of minute eel-shaped 

 wormlets at once began to appear, with eggs mixed with them. These 

 at first merely pressed forward, or were expelled from the orifice, but 

 presently the female (or perhaps at this stage what might be known 

 by the name sometimes used of the egg-sack) cracked, so that the rest 

 of the contents merely dispersed irregularly. 



The eggs, which were plentiful in various of the females, were of 

 the shape figured (magnified) from life (see p. 5G), that is, somewhat 

 bean-shaped, though the convex and concave curve was very slight ; 

 the gradual development of the larva within was easily observable. It 

 will be noticed that the eggs figured (which at first were single cells 

 enclosed within the egg membrane) show at 6 the beginning of seg- 

 mentation, on the progress of which such profound considerations of 

 methods of growth were laid down by Btrubell, that it may be of 

 interest just to allude to them.'-^' 



In the course of my examination, I noticed many cases of injury 

 to the outer skin of the Hop-rootlet, whicli presumably showed that a 

 deal of mischief had been going on, first by the wormlets feeding 

 within, and then by damage to the cuticle in the course of their boring 

 or bursting out ; but I only saw two instances of what appeared to be 

 the swelling of the outer root-bark remaining still unbroken by the 

 developing Nematode within. 



It is quite plain that damage to the health of a plant attacked in this 

 manner is likely to occur. We have examples of this in the effect of 

 this Eelworm root-infestation to Beet, which is thus described: — "The 

 leaves get weak and limp, and the outer ones especially get yellow? 

 spotted, and die ofl". Later on the inner leaves die as well, after which 

 the top of the Beet becomes black, and the whole root gradually 

 decays. In less severe cases the Beet may recover towards autumn, 

 and develop new heart-leaves, but the crop remains small," &c.f We 

 know of it also as injurious at roots of other plants. 



But how far this infestation as a reyular tldmj may be connected 

 with " nettle-top " in Hops, is a matter we need more information about. 



Looking over the letters of various Hop-growers who have been 

 good enough to write in answer to my enquiries, such various conditions 



* bee Stiubtsira ' Untersucliungen uber den Ban und der Entwickeluog des 

 Euben-nematoden Hetcvodera schachtii, Schmidt.' ' Biblioteca Zoologica,' Heft 2, 

 1888. 



t See 'Agricultural Zoology,' by Dr. Eitzema Bos; translated by Prof. J. E. 

 Ainsworth Davis, p. 227. Chapman cV.- Hall, Loudon, 189-1. 



