NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



843 



Mucuna sempervirens. By W. B. H. (Bot. Mag. t. 7978).— Native 

 of China. Nat. ord. Leguminosce ; subord. Papilionacece. A very tall, 

 rambling, evergreen shrub; young parts clothed with stinging hairs. 

 Leaves trifoliate ; dowers dark purple, shading off to white at the base, 

 2 1 inches long. Pod woody, aboiu 1 foot long, 1^ inch broad ; seeds 

 purple- brown. — G. H. 



Musa Holstii. By H. Conrad {Die Gart. No. 40, p. 471, July 2, 

 1904). — A new introduction by Dr. Engler, of the Botanic Garden, Berlin. 

 The plant resembles the old Musa Ensete, but grows much taller, and the 

 middle nerve is not red but green, and the leaves beneath are darker 

 coloured. Dr. Engler found it in West Usambara, near Sakare, 1,200 to 

 1,300 metres alt. — G. B. 



Mushrooms, The Cultivation of. By B. M. Duggar {U.S.A. Dep. 

 Agr., Fanners' Bull. 204, 1904 ; illustrated). — The interest in Mushroom 

 cultivation in the United States having largely increased during the last 

 few years, this pamphlet has been issued to assist growers, some of whom 

 have failed to secure good crops. 



Among likely causes of failure are : (1) The use of poor spawn, or of 

 spawn which has been killed by improper storage. (2) Spawning at an 

 injuriously high temperature. (3) The use of too much water, either at 

 time of spawning or later. (4) Unfavourable temperature during the 

 growing period. 



The principles and practice of successful cultivation are carefully 

 reviewed, and illustrations show the best forms of beds for growing, and 

 methods of packing when grown. — G. H. C. 



Mushrooms, Notes on Enemies of, and on Experiments with 

 Remedies. By August Busck (U.S.A. Dep. Agr. Div. Ent., Bull. No. 

 38, n.s. 1902, pp. 32-35). — The enemies or pests treated of are snails, 

 cockroaches, maggots, or larvse of some undetermined Diptera, and mites. 

 Against the snails was used with perfect success the old remedy of trapping 

 them under loose boards. The cockroaches were temporarily driven away 

 by the application of pyrethrum powder and bisulphide of carbon. The 

 pernicious and highly destructive mite Tyroglyphus Lintneri, which 

 attacks the fruit-bodies in all stages, and also the mycelium were 

 destroyed by pouring boiling water on the bed, using enough to reach the 

 bottom and soak the bed thoroughly. Bisulphide of carbon, hydrocyanic 

 acid gas, vapours of sulphur, and other noxious gases and insecticides 

 proved ineffectual against this pest. " One thing was ascertained through 

 these experiments ; namely, the mushroom mycelium is not injured by 

 the treatment with vapours of bisulphide of carbon ; in fact the growth 

 seemed rather stimulated if affected at all ; and such beds, when not ulti- 

 mately killed by the mites, produced as good a crop as those not treated. 

 The fruit bodies above ground, however, cannot stand the treatment, but 

 disintegrate very soon, for which reason all should be plucked before the 

 application." — R. N. 



Mushrooms Of Michigan. By B. O. Longyear (U.S.A. Exp. Sin. 

 Michigan, Bull. 208, April, 1903 ; 21 figs.). — Gives descriptions and 



