892 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



was attracted by scent, eighty-one bees (chiefly Osmia and honey-bee) by 

 the artificial flowers, and fifty-six by the natural flowers. He gives strong 

 evidence to show that the honey-bee can distinguish colours at more than 

 8-10 metres' distance, and also that it cannot be much guided by scent. 

 The same appears to be the case with butterflies, the more distinctly flower- 

 haunting bees, and such flies as Eristalis. On the other hand, he found 

 also, as one would expect, that small flies and bees and night-flying moths 

 are often guided by scent at a distance, though they are also guided by 

 sight. Some of the experiments are very ingenious, and it is perhaps 

 rather unfortunate that so good an observer should have given so much 

 time and ingenuity to disproving w r hat has been completely discredited. 

 But to those interested in the working of bees and insects many interest- 

 ing hints are to be obtained from this paper. — G. F. S.-E. 



Sciadopitys verticillata. By W. T. {Gard, Mag. 2634, p. 272 ; 

 23/4 04). — An excellent account of this Conifer (with illustration), giving 

 the history of its introduction and hints upon its cultivation in this 

 country. — W. G. 



Seeds, Old and new. By Georges Bellair (Bev. Hort. pp. 134-135, 



March 1G, 1904).— Fresh seeds of Melons, Cucumbers, &c. when sown are 

 apt to produce mainly male flowers, but if kept two or three years produce 

 mainly female flowers, and it is suggested that fresh seed may be arti- 

 ficially used by subjection to dry warmth for a time to mature the seed 

 contents properly, and thus aflect the embryo. [This justifies the old- 

 fashioned habit of some gardeners of keeping such seeds in their pockets.] 



C. T. D. 



Seed, Selection of Corn. By F. W. Card (U.S.A. Exp. Stn. 

 Rhode Is. Rep. 1903, pp. 214-216). — Seeds were selected from the upper 

 ears of Corn (Maize) and from the lower, and gave results in favour of 

 using the former, as may be seen from the following table : — 





Seeds from Upper Ears 



Seeds from Lower Ears 





No. of Plants 



Percentage 



No. of Plants 



Percentage 



Plants with no ears 



31 



6-7 



54 



71 



ii one ear 



213 



46-6 



408 



53-5 



„ two ears . 



141 



30-2 



267 



350 



,, three ears . 



58 



12-4 



31 



41 



ii four ,, . 



20 



4-2 



2 



03 



n five „ . . < 



4 



0-9 







Total 



467 





762 





In 1000 no stalks in either line of plants produced more than two 

 ears. The results show that it is better to select from the upper ears as 

 a rule, since these are usually the best developed. — F. J. C. 



Seeds, The Vitality and Germination of. By J. W. T. Duvel 

 [U.S.A. Dep. Agr. t Bur. PL Ind., Bull. 58, May 28, 1904).— The conditions 

 affecting the vitality and germinating power of seeds have been made the 

 subject of a comprehensive survey by the University of Michigan, U.S.A. 



