138 
F. W. SILVESTEE-EEPOET ON INSECTS. 
may be rather a consequence than a cause of the putrescent state 
of the tubers, i.e. they may be some of the worms or whitish milli¬ 
pedes often infesting roots. 
Mr. Willis yesterday sent to me the following letter :—“ Clover 
injury.—Having called your attention in my recent notes on insect 
injury to a worm infesting diseased potatoes, I now beg to state 
that at the present time we have at Rothamsted, in a field of red 
clover, a strip of land three or four yards wide all across the field 
where the plants are now dying entirely oh, and, on digging up 
some of the plants to-day, I find on the roots of every diseased 
plant a small white worm similar to those found in the potatoes. 
On enquiry I find that upon this portion of the field a dressing 
of fish-manure was applied to, the barley-crop of last year, but 
whether that has anything to do with the development of these 
worms is a question. Up to January of the present year the clover 
plant was strong and healthy.” 
Though not strictly in my department, I have quoted Mr. Willis’ 
letter in full, for doubtless many will be interested in the subject. 
Although we cannot ascertain the cause of the attack till specimens 
have been submitted to a competent authority, this may serve as a 
basis of inquiry for a series of investigations on plant injury, which 
Dr. Erett informs me he intends to urge our Society to take up. 
