NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



813 



mediates gave all three forms again, proving them to be hybrids ; both 

 the stringless and the stringy proved to be of two kinds, pure and hybrid, 

 for some bred true, while others did not. Curiously enough, the stringless 

 hybrids gave about three stringless to one stringy, while the stringy 

 hybrids gave about three stringy to one stringless. Here again, however, 

 the numbers are not sufficient to draw conclusions, and it is to be hoped 

 that Professor Emerson will be able to follow up these interesting and 

 suggestive lines of inquiry with further experiments. — C. C. H. 



Hessian Fly. By H. Garman (U.S.A. Exp. Stn. Kentucky, Bull. 

 103 ; 12/1902). — The later-planted wheat escaped injury in autumn (that 

 sown from Oct. 6 onwards), but when standing near autumn-infested 

 wheat was badly injured in the spring. Deep ploughing, spraying with 

 dilute coal-oil emulsion and with Bordeaux mixture (to a less extent) 

 reduced injury done by the fly. Lime and Paris green in water and dry 

 lime alone did no practical good. Barley was found as susceptible as 

 Wheat, but Eye was almost immune from attack. — F. J. C. 



Heterophylly in Proserpinaca palustris. By George P. 

 Burns [Ann. Bot. xviii., October 1904, pp. 579-587; 1 plate).— The 

 following conclusion is arrived at : Proserpinaca palustris has two forms, 

 an adult form and a juvenile form. Under good vegetative conditions it 

 has a tendency to produce the adult form with the entire leaf, and to 

 blossom and fruit ; under poor vegetative conditions it has a tendency to 

 produce the juvenile form with the divided leaf. Water environment is 

 not the cause of the division of the leaf ; neither does it depend upon 

 light, temperature, gaseous content of the water, nor contact stimulus as 

 such.— A. D. C. 



Hibiscus. By Angiolo Pucci (Bull. B. Soc. Tosc. Ort. 9, p. 265, 

 August 1904). — A very old genus which is not appreciated as it deserves. 

 Belongs to the Malvacece. Some species are very hardy, others are 

 delicate and require a warm stove in winter. The author is concerned 

 here with two species only. 



Hibiscus syriacus is one of the hardy species, and is a very vigorous 

 shrub with caducous leaves. The specific name indicates the place of 

 origin from which it was introduced in ancient times. It will grow in 

 most soils provided they are not too clayey, for in the latter case the 

 plant grows with difficulty and gets covered with lichen. Being a shrub 

 of compact and regular growth, it can be raised in various forms, and 

 bears vigorous annual pruning very well. Hence hedges can be made of it, 

 but the author does not advise this except for gardens which are deserted 

 during the winter. The best form for the plant, in his opinion, is the 

 columnar. At the time of flowering these columns produce a magnificent 

 effect, which is much prolonged, as the flowers keep appearing until the 

 autumn. The plant is prcpagated by seed and cuttings. 



H. Bosa-sinensis is also a shrub, coming from the warmer parts of 

 China, and hence cannot exist outside all the year round, but requires a 

 stove. It likes a dry heat, such as is produced in an old-fashioned stove, 

 and plenty of light. In the middle of spring it can be taken out and 



