JAPANESE LARCH AND THE NEW DISEASE. 121 



The report that a similar disease exists in Yorkshire, would 

 point to the need for a careful inspection of all areas planted 

 with this species. The further fact that a form of the fungus 

 has been observed, in profusion, on the branches and tops 

 some time after their separation from the stems is, to say 

 the least, very disconcerting. 



17. Notes on the Trees and Shrubs of the Depart- 

 ments of Savoie, Haute Savoie and Isere. 



By F. R. S. Balfour. 



The densely-wooded valleys of that highland country are 

 of special interest, as almost all the species of trees and shrubs 

 indigenous to Central Europe are to be found there. 



In the streets, gardens and squares of the principal towns, 

 such as Chambery, Aix-les-Bains and Annecy many exotic trees 

 grow to greater perfection than in the most favoured parts of 

 Great Britain. At Chambery I saw the finest maiden-hair tree 

 {Salisburia adiatitifolid) I know of in Europe, larger even than 

 the examples in the old Botanic Garden of Montpelier in 

 Provence. It grows behind the old citadel, and is a female 

 tree which last summer was covered with fruit. Specially 

 fine specimens of Fauloumia, Caialpa, Gleditschia, Sophora, 

 Ailanthus, Tilia argentea, Acer negundo, Chinese persimmon, 

 Morus alba, and others of the more uncommon broad-leaved 

 species are also to be seen. There are many remarkable 

 avenues of planes, notably that at the north end of the 

 Lake of Annecy, and near Annecy an avenue of walnuts. 

 By the way, why is it that in Great Britain, so far as I am 

 aware, there are no walnut avenues, despite the many merits 

 of the tree? I saw Paulownias at Chambery and Brides-les- 

 Bains of great size, and so laden with fruits that branches had 

 been broken off by their weight. In England the tree only 

 produces its handsome purple flowers in the best climates of 

 the south, and that only after a mild winter, as it sets its 

 flower buds in the previous autumn. In Savoy, Sophora japofiica 

 is the most beautiful of planted trees, and is often completely 

 covered with its creamy blossoms, beloved of bees ; Ailanthus 

 glandulosa also flowers and sets seed freely. Roadside avenues 



