NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



instances of similar character are quoted, involving injustice both to 

 the raisers and the horticultural public. — C. T. D. 



Vine, Black Spot. By M. Blunno (Agr. Gaz. N.S.W. vol. xxiii. 

 pp. 449, 450). — A winter dressing against black spot of the vine is 

 prepared by adding f of a pint of pure sulphuric acid to a gallon of 

 water. Apply to the stems before the buds begin to open. Spraying 

 with Bordeaux mixture in spring and early summer is advisable. 



S. E. W. 



Vines. By M. Blunno (Agr. Gaz. N.S.W. vol. xxiv. pp. 331- 

 339; 22 plates). — Illustrations are given of six ways of pruning 

 vines. — S. E. W. 



Vines. By M. Blunno [Agr. Gaz. N.S.W. vol. xxiv. pt. i. pp. 61- 

 71, 6 figs.). — In Australia a vineyard is planted with cuttings or 

 rooted cuttings. The cuttings may carry eight or ten buds, and are 

 planted about 14 inches deep and 7 feet apart. Imported cuttings 

 are placed in cold water for six hours and are then immersed for twelve 

 hours in a solution of soft soap (10 lbs.), potassium sulpho-carbonate, 

 32 0 Beaume (3 gallons), in 100 gallons of water. To induce the 

 cuttings to make roots, the bark of the lower end of the cutting is 

 scarified with a curry-comb, so as to uncover the cambium. — S. E. W. 



Vines, Budding. By M. Blunno (Agr. Gaz. N.S.W. vol. xxiii. 

 pp. 617-624; 9 figs.). — The operation of budding the vine is shown 

 in nine illustrations. — 5. E. W. 



Water Weeds, Destruction of (Jour. Bd. Agr. vol. xix. No. 3, 

 pp. 216-218). — The use of copper sulphate for the destruction of 

 algae in ponds is described. — A. S. 



Weed Seeds, The Destruction and Dispersal of, by Wild Birds. 



By W. E. Collinge (Jour. Bd. Agr. vol. xx. No. 1, pp. 15-26). — A 

 summary of a large number of experiments is given, and the author 

 is led to the conclusion that, although many writers have said that 

 seed-eating birds are as a class beneficial, they really are not, seeing 

 that, to a much greater extent than is generally supposed, they act 

 as distributors of the seeds of weeds. — A. S. 



Wood Pigeons. By R. S. MacDougall (Jour. Bd. Agr. vol. xx., 

 No. 6, pp. 510-513). — The appearance and habits of the Wood Pigeon 

 (Columba palumbus) and the Stock Dove (Columba aenas) are described, 

 and methods of reducing their numbers in localities where they are 

 troublesome are given. — A. S. 



Woody Aster. ByS. K. Loy (U.S.A. Exp. Sin., Wyoming, Ann. 

 Rep. 1911-12 ; pp. 58, 59). — The poisonous principle of the plant has 

 not as yet been worked out and seems to defy the ordinary methods of 

 extraction (p. 29). Salicylic acid has been found to be present in the 

 plant to the extent of 4 per cent., and the author thinks that this, 



