8 
CLOVER. 
From the above investigations it appears that, though disease 
and decay occur in Clover from many causes, in the various cases 
examined into, where there was true “ Clover-sickness,” there also 
was to be found the presence of this particular kind of Eelworm, the 
Tylenchus devastatrix; and, in the cases of disease so advanced as to 
have a marked state of deformity of growth, there the Eelworms were 
markedly present. 
From various circumstances—and, amongst these, especially from 
the suitable nature of the soil to the plant—it is possible for Clover 
to go on growing year after year on the same land, and still to thrive; 
but if the Eelworms are once established in land there is difficulty in 
clearing them, because not only of their immensely long-livedness, 
which extends over a period of several years, but also that they have 
the power of leaving infested plants and remaining in the field-earth; 
and further, that the one kind under consideration infests a very large 
number of crop and weed plants. 
This puts treatment of this attack under different principles to that 
of most insect attacks, for the application of ordinary chemical 
manures will do good by killing the Eelworms frequenting the surface 
of the soil, even though these manures may not be what are more 
especially and technically, so to say, used for Clover. 
As far as one experiment can show, that detailed above of the 
application of a top-dressing of sulphate of ammonia, sulphate of 
potash, and steamed bones did well, this being followed up by 2 cwt. 
per acre of sulphate of ammonia. In this case the result was so 
luxuriant a growth that in a little more than a fortnight after the 
second dressing the unhealthy plants (if any remained) had ceased to 
be noticeable. The fact of the land under consideration being deficient 
in potash may have to do in this instance with the addition of potash, 
mixed with other manure, being of marked service, as noted by 
Mr. Elder also in the case of Tulip-root in Oats; and, if a manure 
can be chosen at once pernicious to the Eelworms and beneficial to the 
Clover, this would be highly important. 
It appears, so far as I can judge, a case in which dressings ot 
gas-lime would be likely generally to do good. Gas-lime is utterly 
poisonous to the life of insects and similar small organisms, and 
applied with requisite care, as to amount and condition, would, 
I believe, be excellent for the Clover; in my own very limited experi¬ 
ments I have found an excellent growth follow on the application. 
Where a field of Clover is so ruined by “ sickness” that it has to be 
done away with, the infestation would appear to be necessarily done 
away with afterwards, if it was feasible to pare, collect, and burn the 
parings, and dress the exposed surface immediately before turning or 
further disturbing it with fresh, still caustic, gas-lime. In this way 
