Show Watch for Eelworm Damage to Alf Alfalfa Farmers Are U Urged thed l ged to Observe Ob Ob- 9 Observe Q- Q To serve Fields and cat FP st tile the Untied United States Department bY Pr by S 1 of Agriculture are Alfalfa growers In A America Department Department Depart Depart- urged by the United States their to watch ment meat of Agriculture of fields of alfalfa for the tile appearance sick spots which may be cause caused by bythe bythe eelworm the presence of a parasitic aggressive and to take prompt and measures for for eradicating the pest whenever found The eel worm disease seas nematode nematode nema- nema is caused by the alfalfa stem stein tode which Is proving to be an extremely extremely ex ex- dangerous pest a thinning thInning thinning thin thIn- The disease is manifested by ning out of the alfalfa In spots In the of the he field due to the dying of some plants This leaves a poor stand of dwarfed plants with a n reduced number number num num- be bemore bemore bemore of which may ber her of stems some more or less yellowed and distorted shows that the tile dIsease disease disease dis dIs- dis- dis A A. close examination ease is localized in the crown of the plant Stems are swollen at the base and brown In color They are often otten brittle and e easily sUy broken off orr in fact this Is one ope of the means menns 0 o. o easy diagnosis Examining Sick Sp Spots s. s When examining a sick spot In a afield afield a field for the possible presence of the tile disease one should take Into consideration consid more than one of the symptoms toms listed say department workers A thin spot may be caused b by a n variety initial of other factors such as ns a poor joor stand too little or much water the presence of alkali in the soil soU or to some Borne other dl disease ease The surest symptoms toms by which the eelworm disease may be recognized d are the tue swollen buds and sprouts and the enlarged browned stems already mentioned Badly diseased plants show a distinct rotting rutting of the stem stern bases and crown with some or till all ll of the stems sterns completely com killed ed The disease has hus not been located in America in a great many places as yet and it has has' not been under observation for a long enough time to determine Just how damaging It might be In this country But in view of the fact that it causes serious losses in all other countries where it occurs and because I it is very readily spread the department depart depart- silent Dent Is anxious that all nil places of or Infestation infestation In in- be located as soon as possible and methods of ot eradication put Into effect Specimens of ot suspected material ma mn tend should be sent In promptly to the department at Washington for Identification identification together with an account of ot the extent to which the disease occurs Prevent Spread of Disease Because the dl disease ease IS easily spread by irrigation water Infested ha hay farm Implements wind and birds It Il follows that the wise practice is to prevent It becoming established Eradication can be brought about by plowing up the al alfalfa nl- nl falfa falta fields and putting the land hand In other crops for three years ears A further reason for prompt action against the disease is that that it may under favorable fa conditions pass over to and affect other crops such as ns clover buckwheat rye turnips and even potatoes |