NOTES AND ABSTRACTS, 749 



Arachnanthe Lowii. By R. A. Rolfe (Orch. Bev. vol. xii. p. 283). 

 A long and interesting note of the discovery and history of the plant 

 under cultivation. Other interesting particulars are given. — H. J. G. 



Aralia in American Paleobotany. By E. W. Barry (Bot. 

 Gaz. xxxvi. No. 6, p. 421).— This is a critical analysis and tabular 

 arrangement of the evolution of numerous fossil leaves reducible to 

 Aralia.— G. H. 



Arcteria, the rarest of the Heathers. By F. V. Coville (Bot. 

 Gaz. xxxvii. No. 4, p. 298). — This is a description with figure of a 

 fragmentary specimen in the Harvard University Herbarium, which 

 Dr. Asa Gray described as Cassiope oxycoccoides. It came from Bering 

 Island, and was found in 1882 ; but no living plant has been discovered. 

 The author shows that in several characters it differs from Cassiope. — G. H. 



Arethusa Sinensis. By W. B. H. (Bot, Mag. t. 7935).— Native of 

 Western China. Nat. ord. Orchidece ; tribe Neottiece. This is a scapose 

 herb, 4 to 9 inches high, with 2 to 3 lanceolate leaves and 1 to 7 

 flowered scapes of red and white flowers, the lip having fringed crests 

 and a purple margin. — G. H. 



Arundinaria Falconeri. By 0. Stapf (Bot. Mag. t. 7947).— Native 

 of Temperate Himalaya. Nat. ord. Graminece ; tribe Bambusece. A 

 perennial monocarpic grass, 30 feet in height, olive-green, tinged with 

 purple. Leaves lanceolate. The inflorescences on leafless culms form 

 large panicles with purple anthers. The pistil has three stigmas. 



G. H. 



Aselepiadese, African. By J. Britten (Jonrn. Bot. 503, pp. 350-1, 

 11/1904). — Notes in supplement to N. E. Brown's monograph in the 

 " Flora of Tropical Africa," mentioning specimens in the British Museum 

 Herbarium, and correcting some points of nomenclature. Among species 

 specially mentioned are Ceropegia Steudneri and C. denticulata, Podo- 

 sttlma ScJiimperi, Leptade?iia, and the Indian Dischidia clavata. — G. S. B. 



Asparagus Culture at Bathurst Experimental Farm. By 



K. W. Peacock (Agr. Gaz. N.S.W. pp. 317-522, April 1904).— The 

 culture of this popular vegetable is described under the following head- 

 ings : — Varieties ('Conover's Colossal' proved the superior) ; choice of soil ; 

 situation ; preparation of the soil ; raising plants ; selection of plants ; 

 after treatment ; cutting ; manuring ; and injurious insects. It was 

 proved that after deducting cost of cultivation, marketing, &c, a margin 

 of profit from 40/. to 50/. per acre could be obtained. — H. G. C. 



Assimilation by Chlorophyll in the absence of Oxygen. 



By J. Friedel (Compt. Bend. Jan. 1905, p. 169). — It is stated that the 

 assimilation performed by chlorophyll is not modified when the amount 

 of oxygen is reduced to 2 per cent. ; the proportion of carbonic acid is the 

 same as when 18 per cent, of oxygen is present. Later researches show 

 that assimilation does not vary even when 50 per cent, of oxygen is 

 present. This proves that the presence of oxygen in the atmosphere is 

 not indispensable for the process of assimilation.- -G. M. 



