EELWORMS. 
109 
ground remaining. This attack is most difficult to deal with when 
once established. It is most easily carried out to the land in small 
quantities, as mentioned at p. 46, and establishes itself in patches, as 
seen in the map. If such patches are ploughed across, or indeed if 
they are left alone, the Eelworms spread thence and gradually get 
hold; and, as before mentioned, attack Oats, Eye, Buckwheat, Clover, 
and Teazels amongst common crops, and Wild Teazel and Corn Blue¬ 
bottle amongst weeds. It is also mentioned as infesting the two 
common grasses, —Antlwxanthum odoratum, or Sweet-scented Vernal- 
grass ; and the Foa annua, or Annual Meadow-grass ; and the common 
Buttercup, or creeping Crowfoot [Banmiculus repens), which may 
prove to be a reason for attack being found on broken up grass-land; 
likewise the Eibwort Plantain (PUmtago lanceolata); the Polygonum 
convolvulus, which is nearly allied to Buckwheat; and also Spurrey. 
And further, from experiments carefully tried, there seems no reason 
to doubt that it also infests Onions ; and as decayed Onions are 
commonly wheeled out to the farm rubbish-heap, this circumstance 
may turn out to be the reason of the little patches of attack sometimes 
noticeable. 
It is probable that a dressing of fresh gas-lime put on the patches 
so thickly that it would kill the “ wormlets,” and everything that was 
there or was put in for months after, would be the best treatment 
where merely small patches are found in clean ground; the little bits 
of land could be spared, and the centres of infection thus probably 
totally destroyed. Enormously deep ploughing or trenching, as 
mentioned at p. 46, is of use, because it puts the Eelworm down 
where it will die; but the remedy is very difficult to carry out, both 
on account of its expense and of bringing up unimproved soil to the 
surface. 
After long search in special works on the subject, and the benefit 
of special consultation, it appears to me that the main points to be 
attended to are:—1st, Carefully to avoid spreading the infection, 
either in infested litter, common farm manure, or dung, as it appears 
that the wormlets may be passed through the cattle without injury. 
2ndly, To avoid spreading it by means of infested earth carried in any 
way about an infested field, or from one field to another; but that 
the only thing really to be trusted to in case of attack is to exclude 
crops subject to this Eelworm (which are mentioned above, and in the 
preceding paper at p. 46) from the rotation till the land is again 
clean. 
