932 



JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Nitrate of soda applied in July has shown effect in the increase of the 

 size of leaf and fruit, but no similar action is noticeable in any case where 

 it was applied in February. 



The average weight per acre of the Apple bushes after nine years' 

 growth was found to be 430 cwt. — C. H. II. 



Woodlice, The British. By Wilfred Mark Webb, F.L.S., and 

 Charles Sillem (Essex Naturalist, vol. xiv., pt. 1, April 1905 ; with 25 

 plates and numerous cuts). — This promises to be a useful monograph, of 

 which the present is the first part, and consists of an introduction, position 

 in the scheme of classification, geological history, external structure and 

 appendages, alimentary canal, circulatory system, excretory system, 

 nervous system, reproductive organs, development, habits and economic 

 considerations, local names, methods of collection and preservation, 

 classification. 



" Woodlice do not appear to live on either animal or vegetable food 

 alone, but adopt a mixed diet. It is, however, owing to their attacks 

 upon cultivated plants that the creatures are looked upon as pests by the 

 horticulturist. The animals feed, either in the night or in the very early 

 morning, on seedlings, Orchid tubers, mushrooms, or anything that conies 

 to hand. Careful inquiries have enabled us to discover several observers 

 who have watched woodlice feeding, also to give an account of the methods, 

 out of many tried, which have been found most successful for getting rid 

 of the crustaceans " &c. From this extract it will be seen how much 

 this work appeals to horticulturists. The parts following will be con- 

 cerned with the individual species. — M. C. C. 



Zamia, The Nutrition of the Egg in. By I. S. Smith (Bot. i 

 xxxvii. No. 5, p. 346 ; with G figs.). — The central cell of the archegonium 

 becomes surrounded by a "jacket" as it begins to fill with nutritive 

 substances. The cells surrounding the jacket abound with starch, the latter 

 being almost entirely of protoplasm. To convey nutriment the inner 

 walls of the jacket become very much thickened, and are pierced by 

 numerous pores. Through these the protoplasm of the egg protrudes into 

 the jacket-cells, forming haustoria-like processes ; their ends become knot- 

 shaped. They behave like gland-cells, as seen by staining. The contents 

 of the jacket-cells are strongly attracted toward the haustoria, shown by 

 the protoplasm streaming towards them. — G. II. 



Zephyranthes Taubertiana. By H. Conrad (l)'w Cart. No. 48, 

 p. 50G, July 23, 1904). — A new introduction from Brazil. The leaves 

 appear after flowering, and are linear and fleshy. The flowers are 

 delicate pink with yellow anthers. — G. B. 



Zingiber spectabile. By C. II. Wright {Bot. Mag. t. 79G7).— 

 Native of the Malay Peninsula. Nat. ord. Scitaminccc ; tribe Zingiberea, 

 A tall herb with distichous, oblong-lanceolate leaves. Flower-spike oblong- 

 cylindric, G inches long; peduncle H ft. long; bracts rotundate with 

 orange-yellow margins ; corolla-lobes pale yellow ; lips reddish-brown, 

 spotted with yellow.— G. II. 



