I907-] 



Clover Sickness. 



225 



Clover attacked by eelworms is readily recognised by the 

 branches being much swollen at the point where they spring 

 from the crown ; this character is well shown in the accom- 

 panying illustration (Fig. 1). If a very thin slice of a swollen 

 branch is examined under a microscope, numerous colourless 

 eelworms will be seen wriggling about like miniature eels, hence 

 the popular name. 



fig. I. — Typical illustration of "clover sickness." 



In addition to clover, the stem-infesting eelworm attacks 

 many other kinds of cultivated plants and also weeds ; among 

 others may be mentioned potatoes, strawberries, onions and 

 oats. The last-named crop is often as badly attacked as 

 clover, the disease being known among farmers as " segging " 

 or "tulip-root," the latter name being in allusion to the 

 much swollen base of the stem, which bears some resemblance 

 to the bulb of a tulip (Fig. 2). 



(1824) p 



