810 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



weeds, especially the former. Amongst the cultivated grasses, Timothy 

 (Phleum pratense Lu) is the most valuable for hay. Red Top (Agrostis 

 alba L.) makes good pasture. — C. H. C. 



Ground-nuts in the West Indies. By William G. Freeman, 

 F.L.S. (Jour. Imp. Dep. Agr. W.I. vol. iv. No. 2, pp. 101-110).— The 

 Ground-nut, or Pea-nut, Arachis hypogcea, the subject of this communica- 

 tion, is grown throughout the Tropics, the United States, and in Southern 

 Europe. After describing the plant and its produce, the writer proceeds 

 to give an account of the " present condition of industry in the West 

 Indies," and then proceeds to " the cultivation," the uses of Ground-nuts 

 in confectionery, as a source of oil, oil cake and oil meal, and of the 

 foliage as fodder. This is succeeded by "suggestions for the future," with 

 commercial details as to market value, and its importance as an " article 

 of export." — M. C. C. 



Growth of Dandelion Stalk, Rate of. By Dr. K. Miyake (Beih. 



Bot. Cent. xvi. pp. 403-414 ; with 1 figure and 1 plate). — The author 

 observed the growth of Dandelion stalks and found that the daily increase 

 showed great variation. A maximum increase of from 2*7 to 4 cm. was 

 found on the day on which the flowers opened. After this the rate of 

 elongation sank to less than 1 cm. ; during the ripening of the fruit the • 

 rate of growth gradually increased until the day before the fruits were 

 scattered, on which there was again a maximum increase of from 5 to 

 7*8 cm. in one day. The stalk also increased in length on the day on 

 which the fruits were scattered, and then suddenly ceased to elongate, and 

 withered. The whole development takes three to four weeks. From first 

 development to the middle of flowering, seven to ten days to J its length), 

 the last half of the flowering period and first period of seed development 

 takes six to eight days, and the elongation is only T \ T of its length ; then 

 for seven to ten days there is an energetic growth, during which the 

 curvature seen in the preceding stage is straightened out. The growth 

 takes place only in the upper part of the peduncle and near the head. 

 Tables are given illustrating these points. — G. F. S.-E. 



Gum-producing* Tree from Madagascar. By H. Jumelle (Compt. 

 Bend. Jan. 1905, p. 170). — Although numerous members of the 

 vegetable kingdom yield gum, this has not previously been observed in any 

 member belonging to the Bignoniacece. The tree in question is Stereo- 

 spermum euphorioides. The gum is obtained by removing patches of the 

 bark. Two or three months later large tears of white latex collect on the 

 cut surfaces. By degrees the gum escapes more freely, changes to a brown 

 colour, and forms hard masses. The gum is soluble in water, alcohol, &c. 



G. M. 



Gurania eriantha. By Ed. Andre (Rev. Hort. pp. 388-390, Aug. 16, 

 1904 ; coloured plate). — A vine with remarkably pretty spherical pendulous 

 inflorescence, about 2^ inches diam., composed of bright red slender 

 pubescent flowers. Native of Peru ; stove. — C. T. D. 



Gymnosperm Morphology.— By J. Velenovsky (Beih. Bot. Cent. 

 xiv. pp. 127-133). — Gives a short account of the cone-scale structure of 



