TULIP-EOOT. 
39 
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nine inches high, suffering from the usual form of diseased growth,— 
that is, the base swollen into “tulip-rooted” shape, with small 
crumpled-up shoots curled round the base for about half an inch in 
height. 
On opening one of the curled shoots I found it was of a kind of 
spongy white condition within, in which I found a few of the worm- 
lets ; the main stem of the same plant was swollen and hollow for 
about three-quarters of an inch up, the cavity being lined or partly 
covered within at the higher part with chestnut-coloured powdery or 
spongy matter. On examining this under the microscope I found 
that it was swarming with Eel worms, but I did not distinguish any 
eggs ; Eelworms were present in the dark brown decayed matter at 
the base of the cavity, but there.were not many specimens noticeable 
in this part. 
I now tore off a piece of the inner side of a leaf-sheath about am 
inch and a half higher up, and where, excepting for being a little 
swollen, the plant looked well-coloured and healthy ; and here, on 
taking a thin film of the silver-paper-looking surface, I found, with an 
inch power, that the Eelworms were also present. On cutting off a 
length of the central shoot at two to two and a half inches from the 
base, and unrolling just the central part, I did not distinguish that 
there were Eelworms present. 
Eelworms were present in other Oat-plants taken from the same 
field, mainly in the discoloured yellowish part near the base of the 
stem, but I did not find—or rather could not be absolutely certain of 
the presence of—eggs. [The above specimens were examined in 
glycerine with inch and quarter inch powers. —Ed.] The Oat-plants 
from the second field contained Eelworms also, but to a lesser amount, 
and the plants were less swollen. 
With regard to these crops Mr. Brown mentioned:—“They are 
both crops following Turnips and Potatoes. Our crops following hay 
are not this^ year affected, those fields having been hitherto free of 
disease. A part of one field treated last spring with lime shows no 
abatement of the disease.” 
Mr. Brown further mentioned, on July 26th, “that on observing 
the braird not looking well about a month ago, the worst parts received 
a top dressing of nitrate of soda, but this did not appear to check the 
progress of the disease. The plants which you describe as not quite 
m 
SO badly affected were taken from a field which was a little later in 
being sown than the other.” 
On Aug. 23rd Mr. Brown reported the widespread prevalence of the 
attack :—“ I find that disease is more widespread than I had thought. 
I have learnt of cases this year in Lanarkshire, Eenfrewshire, East 
Lothian, and Aberdeenshire ; in this district it is very prevalent, as 
