Reports to the Board of Agriculture . 153 
The difference is probably due to the Enchytrseus taking plant 
food as well as soil, whilst the Lumbrici take in mostly earth. 
The worm-killer made under Professor A. D. Hall’s advice, by 
Harrington Brothers, is composed of the following : — Mercury 
perchloride, 10 lbs. ; hydrochloric acid, 4 lbs. ; water, 6 lbs. 
To dilute for use, add ^ oz. fluid to three gallons of water. 
The corrosive sublimate should be watered over the ground when 
it is moist, preferably after rain. 
Dr. Carpenter, in his last Report, states that these worms were 
almost all cleared out by a very heavy dressing (one ton to acre) of 
rough agricultural salt. 
The Mermis Worm ( Mermis nigrescens), 
A nematode worm, Mermis nigrescens, was sent by a corre- 
spondent from Cirencester, who wished to know if it was injurious. 
The sexual form of this worm lives in damp earth and may be 
found at the roots of plants. It also crawls up the stalks of plants, 
grasses, etc., especially in the morning. The male is unknown. The 
female lays her eggs in the ground, and the young, which are soon 
hatched out, bore their way into the bodies of young grasshoppers, in 
which they undergo part of their development. 
It was pointed out that this worm is certainly non-injurious. 
Mites (■ Gamasidse ) in Cucumber Beds. 
Specimens of mites were sent by Dr. W. Makeig Jones, M.D., J.P., 
from Torquay from cucumber houses. 
Cucumber houses, mushroom pits, etc., are frequently invaded by 
Acari of all kinds. 
They are often injurious, but, in this case, the species sent were 
carnivorous. 
Dr. Jones was informed that the Acari sent were harmless, but that 
the injurious kinds, a few of which exist in cucumber and mushroom 
houses, may be destroyed by dusting flowers of sulphur over the hot 
beds and spraying the plants with liver of sulphur and cold water. 
Liver of sulphur is best used at the rate of 1 oz. of liver of sulphur 
to 3 gallons of soft water, in which Jib. of soft soap lias been dis- 
solved. 
The plants should of course be sprayed late in the afternoon. 
