NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



493 



clear bright blue mixture should result. Add to this mixture what- 

 ever poison it may be desired to use for the destruction of insects, 

 and finish by filling the barrel with water. 

 Insecticides : — 



1. Arseniate of lead used at the rate of 3 lb. per 50 gallons of 

 spraying mixture. 



2. Arseniate of soda. 



Commercial white arsenic . . . . . 2 lb. 



Carbonate ot soda . . . . . . 4 lb. 



Boil in 1 gallon of water until a clear liquid is formed. Dilute 

 this solution to 2 gallons. Use 1 quart of this to 50 gallons of spray 

 mixture. If not used in Bordeaux mixture, add 5 lb. of lime to 

 ensure against burning of foliage. 



3. Paris Green. — This, used in Bordeaux mixture, will not injure 

 foliage. Use 8 oz. Paris green to 50 gallons water. — M. L. H. 



Prickly Pear, Destruction of. By G. P. Darnell-Smith (Agr. 

 Gaz. N.S.W. vol. xxiv. pt. ii. p. 152). — Spraying with a 12 per cent, 

 solution of copper sulphate, or inserting a crystal of this substance in 

 the plant, destroys Prickly Pear. — S. E. W. 



Prickly Pears. By J. H. Maiden (Agr. Gaz. N.S.W. vol. xxiv. 

 pt. i. pp. 49-55 ; 1 coloured plate, 2 plates). — Opunlia Ficns indica, 

 or Indian Fig, is a nearly spineless form, but the fruit is armed with 

 spinules, which can be removed by immersion in hot water. It is 

 not likely to be a pest, as cattle readily feed on it. Burbank's spineless 

 Prickly Pear does not appear to differ from the plants grown in the 

 Sydney Botanic Gardens. — S. E. W. 



Primula Juliae (Bot. Mag. tab. 8468). — Transcaucasia. Family 

 Primulaceae, tribe Primuleae. Herb, perennial. Leaves with blades, 

 1 inch long and broad. Corolla purple. — G. H. 



Primula Wattii (Bot. Mag. tab. 8456). — Himalaya. Family 

 Primulaceae, tribe Primuleae. Herb. Leaves 1 inch long. Scape 

 4 inches high. Corolla violet, with a white eye. — G. H. 



Proteaceae. By A. Sandhofer (Oestr. Gart. Zeit. vol. viii. pt. ii. 

 pp. 82-87 I 1 n g-) — The Proteaceae are propagated by cuttings, bud- 

 ding, or from imported seed. The plants require good drainage and 

 thrive in a compost of peat, loam, sand, and a little charcoal. The 

 following are very decorative ; Banksia aemula, yellowish-green 

 flowers in March ; B. Cunninghami, flowers in winter ; B. dryanoides ; 

 B. ericaefolia bears long spikes of flowers ; B. grandis ; B. integrifolia 

 can be raised from cuttings and is useful as scion for budding; B. 

 Solandri is one of the best ; B. speciosa is well known ; B. spinulosa 

 flowers from January to May. 



