NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



311 



Tree Plantations, Treatment of Artificial. By Edmund Secrest 

 (Ohio, U.S.A., Exp. Sin., Circ. no; Feb. 25, 1911). — Chiefly 

 embodying the well-known facts that in order to be succ essful 

 thorough preparation of the ground, careful planting, and the best 

 systems of after-management should be adopted. Pruning of certain 

 species, particularly the Catalpa, is strongly recommended. — A.D. W. 



Tulips, Forcing of. By T. W. (Gard. Chron., p. 403 ; November 30, 

 1912). — Practical instructions for forcing early-flowering varieties. 



E. A. B. 



Viburnum coriaceum. By W. B. Hemsley (Gard. Chron., p. 363 ; 

 November 16, 1912 ; with fig.). — A critical note on introduction and 

 nomenclature and this figure, the first drawn from the living plant 



E. A. B. 



Vine, a New Enemy of the (Jour. Soc. Nat. Hort. Fr., ser. iv., 

 xiii., p. 78 ; Feb. 1912). — A parasite of the vine, Osyris alba, has been 

 spreading in the South of France and is said to have most disastrous 

 effects on all invaded plants. It should be ruthlessly destroyed, 

 therefore, wherever it is found in the vicinity of vines. (See Journal 

 R.H.S., xxxviii. p. xxxvii.) — M. L. H. 



Vitis cordifolia, Composition of the Sap, Leaves and Stems of. 



By Oliver M. Shedd and Joseph F. Kastle (Jour. Amer. Chem. 

 Soc. 34, pp. 1415-1424 ; 1912). — The authors investigated the dis- 

 tribution of the mineral constituents in the different parts of this wild 

 grape vine. The percentages of the various oxides are given sepa- 

 rately, showing that there is a considerable accumulation in the leaf, 

 less than half the amount in the stem, and only a small proportion in 

 the sap, but the proportionate distribution varies considerably with 

 the different constituents. — W. A. V. 



Water-Culture Experiments. By Conrad Hoffmann (Bot. Gaz., 

 pp. 244-248 ; March 1913 ; with 3 figures). — The author finds that 

 paraffin blocks, moulded and perforated, give better results than the 

 corks usually employed for seedlings to be grown in nutrient solutions. 

 The mould is made of heavy paper folded into cylinders of the dia- 

 meter required, and perforated first by a small borer throughout, and 

 then by a larger cork borer through the upper part only. — G. F. S. E. 



Weeping Trees. By D. (Garden, p. 388, Aug. 3, 1912). — The shade 

 of weeping trees is very acceptable in hot weather, but all are not 

 suitable for the same purpose. According to their habit they may be 

 divided into three groups : (1) trees on which every branch is pendu- 

 lous ; (2) trees with an upright leader and moderately straight main 

 branches, with the secondary branches pendulous ; (3) trees with con- 

 torted growth, the main shoot bending over. 



First Group. — Trees of this group are best where shade is the first 



