852 JOURNAL OF THE IIOYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



represented by a very small lateral process, or quite absent. The paper 

 deals mainly with the anatomical structure. — A. D. C. 



Orchid Cultivation, The History of (Orch. Bev. vol. xii. p. 33).— 

 A continuation of interesting information from Orch. Bev. vol. xi. p. 325. 



H. J. C. 



Orchids, Leaf-mould for. By J. Wilson Potter (Orch. Bev. vol. xii. 

 p. 100). — A thoroughly practical, useful, and interesting article, well 

 worthy the attention, and should be read by all Orchid cultivators. 



H. J. C. 



Osier-growing-. "The Basket Willow." By w. F. Hubbard 

 (U.S.A. Dep.Agr. Bur. For., Bull. 46, 1904; 7 plates, 10 figs.).— The 

 Willows mostly grown for basket-making are Salix viminalis, S. amyg- 

 clalina, 8. pruinosa, and S. purpurea, the second being the best as a rule. 

 The author points out that to grow flexible, tough, and little-branched 

 rods, moist, rich, well-drained bottom land is the best ; in any case, the 

 drainage must be well looked after. A map shows the distribution of the 

 Willow-growing industry in the States. Advice is given on the position 

 of the ground and its preparation for the Willow, planting, weeding and 

 cultivating, cutting, drafting (or grading), and peeling. A perfect Willow 

 rod is extremely tough, elastic, has a level, smooth, and brilliant white 

 surface after peeling, is of good splitting quality, is free from branches, 

 has little pith, and is of great length in proportion to diameter. The 

 bulletin gives a summary of the methods of cultivation &c. in Europe, 

 pointing out how scientific methods are ousting the older haphazard ones. 

 An account is given of the making of Willow-ware in America, and some 

 suggestions derived from this country and the Continent as to an increase 

 in the articles manufactured are put forward. — F. J. C. 



Ovule, The Structure and Morphology of the : An Historical 

 Sketch. By W. C. Worsdell (Ann. Bot. xviii. Jan. 1904, pp. 57-86).— 



The author brings together a large number of facts and presents the 

 various views held by leading botanists as to the morphology of the ovule. 

 He sums up the three principal theories as follows : — 



Axial Theory.— The nucellus is of the nature of a bud bearing the 

 two integuments as lateral appendages. 



" Sui Generis " Theory. — The ovule does not (necessarily) belong to any 

 of the morphological categories, but is an independent structure borne on 

 stem, or foliar organs. 



Foliolar Theory. — The ovule belongs morphologically to the category 

 of the phyllome. It is the homologue of a (usually) three-lobed leaflet, or 

 segment of the carpel.— A. D. C. 



Oxalises, Hardy. By S. Arnott [Gard. Mag. 2626, p. 148; 



27/2/04). — These somewhat uncommon plants are described, and useful 

 hints are given upon their culture, which, with the exception of one or 

 two species, is simple. 



The writer describes nine species as hardy ; but such species as 0. rosea, 

 lasiandtOt, Boicicaua can scarcely be termed hardy in the usual sense 

 in which hardiness is understood. — W. GF. 



