504 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Senecio stenocephalia (Bot. Mag. tab. 8472). — China and Japan. 



Family Compositae, tribe Senecionidae. Herb. Leaves radical, long- 

 petioled ; blade reniform, 9 inches long, 16 inch across, coarsely 

 toothed. Racemes 14 inches long, 2§ inches wide at base. Flowers 

 yellow; from tip to tip of rays, ij inch across. — G. H. 



Sequoias, Giant. By L. Henry (Rev. Hort. Feb. 1, 1913 ; pp. 

 53-57 ; 1 illustration). — A very interesting article on the giant Sequoias 

 (Sequoia gigantea Endl., syn. Wellingtonia gigantea) which attain a 

 height of nearly 400 feet, a diameter of 50 feet, and a thickness of bark 

 of 4 feet, and are estimated to be about 2000 years old. — C. T. D. 



Shrubs in Wire Baskets. By H. Kohler (Gartenflora, vol. lxi. 

 pt. xiii. pp. 285-287 ; 2 figs.). — In order to fill up gaps in the border, 

 Roses, Pasonies, Buddleias, Ceanothus, and Fuchsias may be grown 

 in wire baskets. They can be moved into the desired position even 

 when they are in flower. — S. E. W. 



Siniarubaceae, Anatomy of. By Friedrich Boas (Beth. Bot. 

 Cent. Bd. 29, Abt. I, Heft 3, pp. 303-356 ; 8 figs.). — The author 

 gives full details of the anatomy of no of the 189 species of this order. 

 The Simarubineae are characterized by the presence of remarkable 

 sclerenchymatcus cells in the mesophyll, but there is no anatomical 

 characteristic which is invariably found throughout the order. A 

 new genus, Hebonga, is described, and new species of Simaruba, Simaba. 

 Castela Perriera is placed under Hannoa. 



Other changes in specific names on the ground of anatomical 

 differences are also suggested. — G. F. S. E. 



Smut in Wheat (Agr. Gaz. N.S.W. vol. xxiii. p. 394). — Corvusine 

 is less effective as a bunt destroyer than treatment with a 2 per cent, 

 copper sulphate solution and lime water ; it also reduces the germi- 

 nating power of the wheat to a greater extent. 



Clarke's Carbolised Wheat Protector destroys smut, but affects 

 germination to a greater extent than copper sulphate. — S. E. W. 



Soil Biology. By G. L. Fawcett (U.S.A. Exp. Stn., Porto Rico, 

 Ann. Rep. 1911 ; pp. 37, 38). — In the course of investigations into the 

 bacteriology of " sick " soils it was found that in two of the worst 

 soils in this respect there was a complete absence of protozoa, though 

 bacteria were abundant. Though it was obvious that any good results 

 to be derived from the disinfection of these soils cannot be due to the 

 destruction of the protozoa, yet canes planted in boxes of the dis- 

 infected soil gave a much more vigorous growth than those planted in 

 soils not disinfected. — A. P. 



Soils, Effect of Strongly Calcareous, on the Growth and 

 Composition of Plants. By P. L. Gile {U.S.A. Exp. Sin., Porto 

 Rico, Ann. Rep. 191 1 ; pp. 20, 22). — Investigations are in progress to 

 determine the adaptability of various plants to such soils. Excess or 



