64 
CORN. 
“ Tulip-root ” Disease from Eelworm, Tylenehus devastatrix, 
Kuhn. 
Tulip-rooted Oat Plant. 
The disease known as “Tulip-root” in Oats takes its name from 
the swollen appearance of the base of the stem, which bears some 
resemblance to a Tulip-bulb, though still more to a “duck-necked” 
Onion. This swelled stem is usually surrounded by a number of 
small doubled-up shoots, pale in colour, and bent to and fro instead of 
being properly extended. The above figure shows the appearance of 
an attacked plant as it is often seen; the disease is also known as 
“ Segging,” or “ Sedging,” from the Sedge-like appearance often 
assumed by the leaves. From the healthy growth of the plant being 
checked there is necessarily much loss both in straw and grain. 
This disease has been much noticed of late years, especially in 
Scotland ; and on investigation in 1886, I found Eelworms present in 
the bulb-like base of the stems, as well as in the spongy curled shoots; 
and from the resemblance of the diseased Oat-plants to the diseased 
appearance which is assumed by Rye when attacked by the Eelworm 
known by the name of Tylenclius devastatrix, it appeared likely that 
this Eelworm was also the cause of our attack, and on special 
examination being made by Dr. J. G. de Man and Dr. Ritzema Bos 
(already referred to in this report relatively to their studies of this 
subject) such proved to be the case. 
During the spring of 1887 I was favoured by Dr. Ritzema Bos 
(for the sake of parallel examination) with specimens of young Rye- 
plants, of about three to five inches high, suffering from the “ stem- 
sickness,” as this attack, answering to our “ Tulip-root ” in Oats 
caused by the Eelworm above mentioned, is called in Germany. 
These plants showed precisely the same nature of deformed growth as 
our own Tulip-rooted Oats ; the lower part of the stem was similarly 
