264 



the cotton in May, when the plants are quite small and the disease con- 

 tinues throughout the season. 



In my studies last autumn I found cotton affected at Auburn, but 

 not seriously. Some cotton planted in September of the present year 

 for experimental purposes was, in some cases, seriously attacked while 

 yet only one or two leaves above the cotyledons were developed. 



The worms are able to live and develop in the roots of a great variety 

 of plants, though some plants are more subject to serious attack. There 

 are indications that they may become somewhat provincialized in their 

 tastes, in some localities attacking more seriously plants which in other 

 localities are not much injured. If deprived for some time of the food 

 plants they prefer they will affect more seriously the ones which for- 

 merly nearly escaped their injuries. That the worm can produce a seri- 

 ous liisease of cotton, and is more widely and thoroughly distributed 

 than is generally known, increases the gravity of an already serious 

 question. 



Do we know how many nurseries, market gardens, propagating houses, 

 and less pretentious places for growing such plants as the peach, grape, 

 tomato, cabbage, Irish potato, etc., for sale, or even to give away to 

 be transplanted, are Infected with this worm ? There are certainly 

 some. 



If it is within the limits of wise legislation to pass laws to prevent 

 the spread of animal diseases, why not quarantine these centers for the 

 distribution of this Nematode ? It seems to me the first and most im- 

 portant action in reference to this enemy of agriculture is to prevent 

 the present reckless policy of distribution, which could easily be done 

 by proper legislation and inspection. 



In discussing this paper Mr. Smith spoke of a root disease, i)robably 

 the work of a Il^ematode, injuring oats in i^ew Jersey, and supposed by 

 some to be the work of a plant louse. Mr. Atkinson thought this 

 injury to the oats was due to the attacks of a Tylenchus sp., and 

 requested all who might find this disease to send him specimens. 



Mr. Forbes said that the radishes growing on the university grounds 

 were quite severely attacked by a Nematode, and that specimens could 

 now be obtained from them. 



' Mr. 0. M. Weed then read a paper on the Life Histories of Certain 

 Aphididae.* 



In discussing the paper, Mr. F. M. Webster said he thought in one of 

 the species of Aphididcehe had been able to distinguish the oviparous and 

 viviparous females by their positions on the plants, as the latter have 

 the habit of throwing their abdomens out nearly perpendicular to the 

 surface on which they are standing. Mr. Weed had not noticed such a 

 distinction. 



Mr. Smith had not found any two species of plant lice with the same 



* The substance of this paper is given in the article by Mr. Weed in this number of 

 Insect Life, entitled ''Fifth Contribution," etc. 



