Annual Repot-t fur 1891 of the Hon. Consulting Entomolor/iist. 849 
a minute fungus very close to that causing the potato disease. 
Nothing can save the crop thus attacked, as the fungus lives on the 
stem just above the root, and so destroys it that the communication 
between the roots and the plant is interrupted. The ceasing to grow 
clover on such a held for some years is desirable as the only way to 
get rid of the spores of the fungus. A held of barley near Xorwich 
was attacked by the fungus which I described many years ago as 
" straw blight." My correspondent informs me that the seed was 
drilled in March, the plant came nicely, and it looked a splendid 
crop until the end of April. Then the held began to look patchy, 
and in August ten acres in the field of fourteen produced a very 
poor crop of starved and imperfectly filled ears. Tlie injury here is 
very much the same as that just noticed in the clover. The fine 
threads of the fungus take possession of the lower joints of the stalk, 
destroy the tissues, and stop the living connection between the roots 
and the stem. The fructification of the attacking fungus has not 
yet been observed, and my attempts this year to cultivate the 
diseased straw so as to obtain the fruit were unsuccessful. 
A similar injury was caused to a field of oats near Limavady, 
Ireland. The plants sprang very well, and grew with apparent 
strength and vigour until the beginning of July, when they began 
to look sickly and then die otf. This was caused by the microscopic 
nematoid or eel worm {Tylenchus destructor) attacking the base of 
the stem and eating up the tissues, and so stopping the connection 
between the stem and the roots, 
Wm. Carruthers, 
ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1891 OF THE 
HONORARY CONSULTING ENTOMOLOGIST. 
D^Ri>"G the last twelve months applications regarding identification 
of injurious insects, and methods of preventing their ravages, and 
inquiries on points bearing on the subject as a matter of Agricultu- 
ral Entomology, have continued without any break, as have also my 
own careful endeavours to attend to all applications. 
The number of letters received has been approximately between 
twelve and thirteen hundred. These (besides inquiries and consul- 
tation regarding nature, &c., of crop, fruit, and timber insect pests) 
included also inquiries bow to obtain, and how best to give, infor- 
mation on crop insect considerations, especially in connection with 
agricultural instruction under direction of the County Councils ; be- 
tween two and three hundred letters regarding the use of Paris green ; 
and also communications regarding warble prevention ; likewise 
some amount of correspondence regarding attacks to Colonial 
VOL. II. T. S.— 8 3 K 
