TULIP-ROOT. 
35 
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J) 
The chief outward sign of this diseased growth is an enlargement 
of the base of the stem of the Oat-plant into a bulb-like form, from 
which the attack takes the name, of “ Tulip-root,” although the low^er 
part of the diseased plant, taken altogether, much more resembles a 
“ duck’s-necked ” onion. Bound this swollen base there are usually 
a number of short stunted pale-coloured shoots, each shoot crumpled 
and folded on itself, and the collection altogether forming a mass of 
rough irregular ends not unlike in appearance to a worn-down broom, 
whence possibly arises the name of “ besomed ” Oats, occasionally 
given to this form of attack. 
These two conditions (that is, the swollen stem and the encircling 
distorted and stunted shoots) are commonly present, but when the 
diseased plants sent me were fully grown I have not found that as 
many stunted side-shoots were as observable as before ; also in the 
very early stage of the attack (as seen in specimens of young winter 
Oats sent to me about the middle of November) I did not find even 
the “ Tulip-root ” swelling definitely formed. There was only at that 
time a small swollen knot or gall a little way up the stem. The in¬ 
fested plant was still in such early growth that, though many Eelworms 
were present, the diseased formations which they give rise to were 
only just beginning to appear. 
Specimens of injured Oat-plants were sent to me at dates ranging 
from July 6th to Nov. 16th, thus showing the progress of the disease 
in the plants from about six inches high up to such maturity as they 
reached, and likewise (by means of the autumn-sown Oats) showing 
the appearance of the attack in an early stage. 
The “ Tulip-root ” disease (so far as was reported) was much more 
prevalent during 1886 in Scotland than in England ; it occurred in 
the shires of Eenfrew, Ayr, Lanark, Linlithgow, and also in East and 
Mid Lothian ; and the fact that these counties, or portions of counties, 
lie together (as, it might be said, “ in a ring-fence ”) may prove worth 
notice. It also occurred in Aberdeenshire, and also in the English 
counties of Yorks, and Berks. 
As this very peculiar attack has not yet been much brought 
forward, I examined the specimens sent very carefully, to make abso¬ 
lutely sure that Eelworms were always present in the diseased plants, 
and have given the notes of examination in detail, although each is 
almost a repetition of the others, as the mere fact of this exact 
similarity of presence of Eelworms and of diseased growth always 
accompanying it is of practical use. 
The inside of the bulb-like stem was more or less hollow, the 
surface of the cavity was often spongy, and, as the disease became 
worse, the surface became yellowish or brown with decay. On 
scraping away some of this spongy or brown matter I found this to be 
