ABSTRACTS. 



551 



distributer for paraffin oil by which a man on the ground can ojoerate on 

 trees up to ten feet. — TF. G. S. 



Gladiolus SUlphureus, de Graaf. By Sir J. D. Hooker {Bot. Mag. 

 tab. 7791). — Nat, ord. Iridcce ; tribe Ixiece. Native of the Transvaal. 

 Flowers, 2i inches long, primrose-yellow in colour. — G. H. 



Gooseberry Mildew {Microsphceria grossularice). Anon. {Jour. Bel. 

 Agr. vol. viii. No. 1, pp. 1, 2, June 1901, with plate, figs. 1-3). — This fungus, 

 which appears as a flowery substance on the leaves in spring, presenting 

 minute black points later in the season, is briefly described, together vaih. 

 the allied American Gooseberry Mildew {Sphcerotheca Mors-uvce), which 

 occurred in abundance in county Antrim, Ireland, in 1900. Illustrations 

 of both species are given on an accompanying plate. Spraying with a 

 solution of potassium sulphide, in the proportion of 1^ lb. of sulphide 

 to 50 gallons of water, is recommended as the most effective remedy. 



Bordeaux mixture must not be used after the fruit is set, and is 

 not under any circumstances as effective as the potassium sulphide 

 solution." 



Dead leaves and fruit should be collected and burnt. — B. 



Gooseberry Saw-fly Caterpillar. By Alger Petts [Gard. Mag. 

 2,500, p. 280 ; 28 9 1901). — The writer explains the various remedies he 

 has tried or heard of for the extermination of this pest, which all seem to 

 be troublesome remedies, though worth adopting in bad cases. — W. G. 



Grafting^ of Vines. By Augusto Ville {Bull. E. Soc. Tosc, 

 Ort. 7, p. 195, July 1901). — "English Herbaceous Grafting," as the 

 author terms it, was invented in 1897 by a vine-grower called Lafleur, 

 and is usually named after him. The graft is always inserted on the sub- 

 aerial part of the plant. It must take place from the end of May to the 

 middle of July, or from a fortnight before the flowering period imtil three 

 or four weeks after the same. The latter period is more favourable, as 

 the buds are then better set. It is advisable to insert several grafts on 

 the same stock in case of failures, and on branches which have been 

 lopped before the vegetative period set in. The grafts should be chosen 

 from shoots of the year, and are usually cut off above the first or second 

 leaf — above the uppermost cluster of Grapes. Buds must be taken from 

 those plants which bear most fruit. If the section of the wedge-shaped 

 graft presents a gre}dsh appearance, this is a sign of lignification and of 

 the graft being in a fit condition for use. The grafts should be one or 

 two centimetres long and divested of the leaves. The stock should be at 

 least 6 mm. in diameter. Minute directions are given as to how the 

 graft and stock are to be cut so as to ensure perfect firmness and fixity. 

 Grafts can be inserted at various heights, even a metre from the ground, 

 but those at the ground-level are more to be relied on. The incision on 

 both stock and graft should be made in the proximity of an eye, as it is 

 in that region that cellular tissue is most abundantlv formed. One or 

 two buds may be left on the graft. Every three or four days developing 

 buds should be removed from the stocks. In ten or fifteen days those 

 grafts which have taken begin to shoot out vigorously, when they should 

 be tied to a support. If the operation has been well done and the 



