-546 .TOUENAL OF THE EOYAL HOETICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 



Johannsen, of Copenhagen, as recorded in the " Independance Beige " : — 

 The plants concerned, principally Lilacs, are subjected to the vapour of 

 sulphuric ether in the early autumn, the result being the killing of the 

 existing foliage, followed by a rapid development, under forcing conditions, 

 of the next season's flower-buds. Directions are given for application of 

 the ether, and remarks made as to the adaptation of the processes to 

 various flowering plants other than Lilacs. — C. T. D. 



Eupatoriura petiolare. By W. E. Gumbleton (Gard. Chron. 

 No. 755, p. 379, fig. 142 ; 15/6 1901). — A free-blooming, sweet-scented 

 greenhouse plant, with a delicate odour of vanilla ; flowers early in the 

 season, and is on that account a valuable acquisition. — G. S. S. 



Euphorbia. By J. B. S. Norton {BejJ. Miss. Bot. Gard. vol. xi., 

 p. 85 ; 1900 ; plates 11-52). — Revision of the forty species of the section 

 Titliymalus, occurring in America north of Mexico, with analytical key, 

 diagram of relationship, full synonymy, figures giving details of flowers 

 and seeds, description of several new varieties and of one new species, 

 E. alta = E. dictyosperma Engelm., non Fischer and Meyer. — G. S. B. 



Feijoa Selloviana, Berg. By Prof. R. Pirotta (Bull. B. Soc. 

 Tosc. Ort. 6, June 1901, p. 174).— Genus founded by Berg in 1858 for 

 plants formerly described by him as Ortliostcmon. It is hardy in Italy. 

 One of the few ornithophilous plants, being fertilised by species of 

 TJiamnophilus, according to Fritz ]\Iiiller. The petals, at first spread 

 •out, become at length rolled into a tube and have then a sweet taste. 



W. C. W. 



Ferns, truncate. By C. T. Druery (Gard. Chron. No. 753, p. 354 ; 

 1 '6 1901). — Attention is called to certain Ferns which at times produce 

 truncated fronds, and the possibility is suggested of this being the result 

 of " long-continued truncation, whether by hedgers, sheep, or insects, 

 including variation to fit, which is, however, pure hypothesis, and only 

 advanced as such." — G. S. S. 



Ferns, Observations on the Anatomy of Solenostelic. By 



D. T. Gwynne-Vaughan, M.A. (Ann. Bot. vol. xv. No. Ivii. p. 71). — 

 Solenostelic is a convenient word to indicate what De Bary called the 

 " closed tubular bundle." Loxomco is the genus here studied, and it is 

 found to be typical of solenostelic Ferns. Horticulturists and botanists 

 are familiar with the broken wood ring of most Ferns, but in Ferns of 

 this more exceptional structure the vascular tissue is arranged in a single 

 hollow cylinder. Loxoma, unfortunately, is not in cultivation. Mr. 

 Gwynne-Vaughan points out the similarity of the anatomy of solenostelic 

 Ferns and that of 2Iarsilea. — B. I. L. 



Fig's. The Cultivation of the Smyrna Fig' in the United 

 States. By L. 0. Howard {U.S.A. L^ei^. Agr. 1900, p. 79).— An interest- 

 ing account of the introduction of the insects which fertilise the Figs, and 

 the successful growth of Figs in California. Perhaps similar success 

 might be attained in some of the Colonies of Great Britain. — C. W. D. 



