NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



289 



Iris * Snow Queen.' [By W. R. Dykes (Garden, p. 562, Nov. 9, 

 1912). — The author puts forward the view that this fine Iris is merely 

 the albino form of Thunberg's I. orientalis, which is probably a species 

 distinct from /. sibirica. Possibly the two plants merely represent 

 different combinations of Mendelian characters. /. sibirica has long 

 stems raising the flowers well above the foliage, producing heads of 

 3, 4, and 5 flowers on pedicels of increasing length ; the capsules are 

 short, broad, and bulging, and contain flat seeds. /. orientalis has 

 leaves as long as or longer than the stems, of which the terminal head 

 rarely contains more than two flowers on comparatively short pedicels. 

 The capsules are long and narrow, triangular in section, and contain 

 small, thick, almost cubical seeds. The flowers of I. sibirica are 

 smaller than those of /. orientalis, and the almost orbicular fall blades 

 of the latter are extended nearly horizontally, while those of /. sibirica 

 hang perpendicularly. ' Snow Queen ' breeds true to the white colour, 

 and is recessive for the colour factor ; if cross-fertilized with the type, 

 some beautiful forms of a bright sky-blue colour can be obtained of a 

 shade the author has not seen elsewhere among Irises. — H. R. D. 



Irrigation Studies. By C. I. Lewis, E. J. Kraus, and R. W. 

 Rees (U.S.A. Exp. Sin., Oregon, Bull. 113, May 1912 ; n figs.). — 

 Though the average annual rainfall in the Rogue River Valley is 28*8 

 inches, the fall from June to September, inclusive, is only 2*6 inches, 

 and irrigation is therefore resorted to (p. 4). It has been found that 

 in general the percentage of first-class fruit is increased by irrigation, 

 this being particularly noticeable with a block of fifty-three mature 

 and vigorous trees of ' Winter Nelis ' pear, about one-third of the crop 

 being under size where irrigated, and as much as three-quarters on 

 the dry check plot, none of the fruit in the latter case being classed 

 as above third size (p. 42) . Some varieties of apples become more 

 angular and elongated, the colour at the same time being brighter, 

 though less deep, while both fruit and leaves hung on the trees longer 

 in the autumn and a greater growth of wood was produced (p. 44). 

 Water was applied in varying amounts according to the character 

 of the soils, some pumice soils receiving as much as 3,500 gallons 

 a tree in three applications, and medium and slightly heavy soils 

 1,000 to 2,000 gallons in two applications, while some of the heavier 

 types have shown the best results under cultivation without the use 

 of water (p. 45). — A. P. 



Jordan, Theories of, Applied to Horticulture. By S. Blaringhem 

 (Rev. Hort. d'Alg., No. 12, p. 389, Dec. 1912). — An account of the 

 Institution at Svalof, in Sweden, where the theories and principles of 

 Segregation, Selection, and Mutation are scientifically applied to the 

 breeding of new races of different grains. A description is given of the 

 work carried out there, with tables showing the system according to 

 which the records are kept, and mention is made of the new and 

 improved strains with which the establishment has in consequence 



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