NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



741 



Aloe Baumii. By A. Berger {Gard. Ghron. No. 902, p. 226, fig. 94, 

 April 9, 1904). — This species was discovered by H. Baum near Chirumba 

 on his Kumene-Sambesi expedition in 1899, about 1,200 metres above the 

 sea-level. An account of this expedition has just been published, in 

 which this plant is described for the first time. Mr. Baum says that 

 " the natives call the plant 1 Mantomba,' and use the flowers to make a 

 kind of cake." Native of South-West Africa. Nat. ord. Liliacece; tribe 

 AloinecB. A dwarf Aloe. Leaves rosulate, 9 to 12 inches long, with 

 oblong whitish spots ; flowers racemose, orange-red. — G. S. S. 



Alstrcemeria nana. By A. B. Eendle (Joum. Bot. 503, pp. 325- 

 326; 11/1904). — Description of a new species collected by Mr. Hesketh 

 Prichard on Mount Frias and the shingle of Lake Argentino, Patagonia. 

 The species, which is one-flowered, is about the same size as the Andine 

 A. pygmcea, its flowering stem being 10 cm. high. It is very near 

 A. patagonica. The perianth-lobes are about 2 cm. long, yellow, slightly 

 dotted with red on the three inner ones. — G. S. B. 



Analysis of the Soil by Means of the Plant. By A. D. Hall 

 {Jour. Agr. Sc. vol. i. part i., pp. 65-88 ; Jan. 1905).— An article teeming 

 with interest to those students of agricultural science who have time 

 thoroughly to master the facts and arguments set forth. From the 

 " general conclusions " which Mr. Hall draws we extract the following : — 



" 1 . The proportion of phosphoric acid and of potash in the ash of 

 any given plant varies with the amount of these substances available in 

 the soil, as measured by the response of the crops to phosphatic or potassic 

 manures respectively." 



"2. The extent of the variation due to this cause is limited." 



" 3. The fluctuations in the composition of the ash are reduced to a 

 minimum in the case of organs of plants, which, like the grain of cereals 

 or the tubers of Potatos, are manufactured by the plant from material 

 previously assimilated." 



" 6. Pending the determination of phosphoric acid and potash ' con- 

 stants ' for some test plant occurring naturally on unmanured land, the 

 interpretation of soil conditions from analysis of plant ashes is not a 

 practicable method by which chemical analysis of the soil can be dis- 

 placed." — F. J. B. 



Anarthrophyllum Priehardi. By A. B. Bendle {Joum. Bot 503, 

 p. 331, pi. 465a, 11/1904). — Description of a new species, very near to 

 .4. desideratum, collected on the top of Mount Frias, Patagonia, by Mr. 

 Hesketh Prichard. It is a tough-stemmed undershrub, with silky tripartite 

 leaves and conspicuous orange flowers with reddish standard petals. 



G. S. B. 



Ancistrochilus Thompsonianus. By R. A. Rolfe {Orch. Bev. 

 vol. xii. p. 297, fig.). — Interesting particulars of its history &c, and the 

 illustration is well reproduced. The plant is better identified in gardens as 

 Pachy stoma Thompsoniana.—H. J. C. 



Angiosperms, Hallier's System of. ByG. Senn {Beih. Bot. Cent. 

 xvii. pp. 129-156). — Gives a short discussion of Hallier's work and gives 



