752 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Bark-Beetles. (In Nat. Zeit. Land-Forst. ii. 1904.)— (1) Herr 



Eggers classifies and gives notes on the Scolytidce and Platypodida found 

 in Hesse (pp. 88-100; 1 fig.). (2) Herr Fuchs contributes a paper on 

 the occurrence of the same groups in Bavaria (pp. 253-259). — W. G. S. 



Basidiobolus Ranarum Eidam, New Researches on the De- 

 velopment of. By Zigmunt Woycicki (Flora, xciii. 1904, pp. 87-97 ; 

 t. iv.). — This deals with the formation of the zygospores from two adjacent 

 sister-cells of the hypha. The nucleus of either copulating cell divides 

 karyokinetically, and one daughter- nucleus passes into the functionless 

 beak, the other remains in the zygote, which thus contains two " cousin- 

 nuclei." A second amitotic nuclear division takes place in both of these, 

 two of the four nuclei so formed being absorbed, the other two " second- 

 cousins " conjugating and fusing. The process shows close analogy with 

 that of Spirogyra, as described by Chmielevsky. In the nucleus of this 

 species the chromatin is confined to the so-called nucleole or karyosome. 

 The nuclear membrane disappears in karyokinesis. The cell-plate is 

 peripheral in origin, and forms a diaphragm, converted into a disk by 

 centripetal growth. — M. H. 



Bay Oil and Bay Rum {Jour. Imp. Dep. Agr. W.I. vol. iv., No. 

 2, pp. 119-128).— The preparation of Bay oil and Bay rum are West 

 Indian industries about which there is little available information. The 

 Bay tree of tropical America, Pimenta acris, is widely distributed, and 

 there is apparently more than one variety. After a botanical and general 

 description, with an enumeration of uses, we are informed that " Bay 

 rum " is procured by distillation, and this in a very simple manner. The 

 leaves are picked from the trees and then dried ; in this state they are 

 placed in a retort, which is then filled with water, and the process of 

 distillation is carried on. The vapour is then condensed in the usual 

 way, and forms what is known as "Bay oil," a very small quantity of 

 which is required for each puncheon of rum. 



The dried leaves of Pimenta acris are shipped in large quantities from 

 Dominica to New York. Information is also given of this particular 

 industry in Dominica and Montserrat, and it is also stated that, " in 

 consequence of the insufficient supply of good quality of leaves, genuine 

 Bay oil has been very scarce." 



The best kind of leaf is derived from the true Bay tree, Pimenta acris, 

 but among other Bay trees known in the West Indian Islands there is 

 one with the leaves possessing the taste and odour of Lemon. The oil 

 obtained from the leaves of this tree, if mixed with the true Bay oil, is 

 said to destroy its value in commerce. For the tree with Lemon-scented 

 leaves the name is suggested of Pimenta acris var. citrifolia. — M. C. C. 



Beech COCCUS. By — Brotherston (Gard. Chron. No. 917, p. 58, 

 July 23, 1904). — This insect has spread very much lately in various 

 places, and it is very injurious to trees which are badly infested by it. 

 Frequently no notice is taken of this pest until the stems of the trees are 

 almost covered with it. It is then much more troublesome to get rid of 

 this insect than if it had been destroyed when there were comparatively few 



