2 
CLOVER-SICKNESS. 
the growth of the shoots in some cases deformed, that is, shorter and 
thicker than the natural form, and the buds also having a swelled 
appearance; and the plant, after being unpacked, decaying further, and 
becoming mouldy very rapidly. In the earth round the roots I found 
Sitona larvae, that is, the maggots of the small beetles known as Clover, 
Pea, and Bean Weevils—Millepedes or False Wireworms; and in almost 
all cases, at least in the earlier part of the investigation, there was also 
presence of a small orange or reddish footless maggot, very like the 
well-known “Red Maggot ” of Wheat and Barley, and (like it) the 
larva of a Cecidomyia, or Gnat Midge. 
What mischief these various creatures and some other kinds also 
present were or might be doing is considered further on; but the great 
injury, wherever we could run it clearly to its origin, was the kind 
of Clover “stem-sickness” caused by Eel worms, and in the notes 
immediately following I give as complete an account as I am able of 
the results of investigation of specimens sent me from the experimental 
ground of the Royal Agricultural Society at Woburn, and also from the 
experimental ground of Sir John Lawes at Rothamstead, Herts; in 
the latter case with notes appended of success (or otherwise) of 
applications made to check the attack. 
Early in April specimens of Clover were sent me from Woburn by 
Mr. F. E. Fraser; these were sickly-looldng, and partly dead, and on 
examination showed symptoms of Eelworm presence, hut no obvious 
infestation at the time. From the decaying and mouldy state of the 
plants I thought it possible that the Peronospora trifoliorum , D. By., to 
which one form of Clover “sickness” is attributed, might be present; 
and to ascertain surely how this might be, I forwarded specimens to 
Mr. Worthington G. Smith, Dunstable, who has made the Fungi his 
special study, and was favoured by him on April 7th with the following 
reply:— 
“ I have looked carefully over the Clover-plants, and I cannot see 
a trace of any parasitic fungus. The white mildew is only Penicillium , 
growing on places injured by disease ; the plants on my table are now 
covered with this mould. Peronospora trifoliorum forms very distinct , 
grey, woolly patches. 
“ The general appearance of your plants reminds me at once of the 
work of Nematodes —the leaves, as well as the softened semi-rotten 
rootstock. As you well know, Nematodes sometimes go away from 
decaying plants ; after a certain stage they leave the host-plant, and go 
into the ground. They are sometimes very scarce in plants which 
have been undoubtedly destroyed by them.”—W. G. S. 
As this is a well-known fact, and it was most desirable to learn 
with certainty from a known expert in study of Nematodes what was 
going on, about a fortnight later at my request Mr. Fraser forwarded 
