NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 783 



sterilization such as is effective with the spores of " smut " and " bunt " 

 would prove of value, as the thick-walled resting-spores are embedded 

 in the tissues of the seed. 



" Now that the disease is undoubtedly present, and perhaps to a 

 greater extent than is realized, the most certain method for preventing 

 its wholesale distribution turns on the selection of seed from districts 

 free from the disease, and as the symptoms are so evident in the 

 field, and so readily corroborated, or otherwise, in the laboratory, this 

 should prove a comparatively easy matter." — A. S. 



Grass Vegetation on the Okaimpuro Farm in German South- 

 west Africa. By R. Pilger (Not. Konig. Bot. Berlin, vol. vi., No. 52, 

 pp. 70-71, September 1913). — This farm lies 15 km. west of Waldau 

 and 35 km. north of Okahanza. It furnishes a very typical example 

 of the varieties of grass which occur upon grazing land in this region. 



On the highest portions of the land Aristida uniplumis Licht. 

 alone occurs. In the hollows the meadows consist of a mixture of 

 grasses : Panicum notabile Hook., Tricholaena madagascariensis (Nees) 

 Mez., Tricholaena Dregeana (Nees) Dur. and Schinz, Pennisetum ciliare 

 (L.) Link, Anthephora pubescens Nees, Aristida adscensionis L., Pappo- 

 phorum cenchroides Licht, Schmidtia quinqueseta Benth., Eragrostis 

 superba Wawra. and Peyr., E. porosa Nees, E. angusta Hack., Aristida 

 uniplumis Licht. 



Anthephora pubescens is a particularly valuable grass for fattening 

 oxen. — R. B. 



Greenheart. By C. D. Mell and W. D. Brush (U.S.A. Dep. 

 Agr., Forest Service, Circ. 211, January 23, 1913). — The lasting 

 properties of the timber of the Greenheart (Nectandra Rodiei) are 

 known the world over ; in fact, authentic records show that in this 

 respect it surpasses iron and steel in durability when placed in con- 

 junction with either water or soil. It is a large growing tree, often 



60 feet high and from 3 to 4 feet in stem diameter. — A. D. W. 



• 



Grevillea bipinnatifida (Bot. Mag. tab. 8510).— Family 

 Proteaceae, tribe GreviUeae. W. Australia. Shrub, spreading or 

 prostrate, 3 feet high. Leaves 2-pinnatifid, 3-6 inches long. Racemes 

 solitary or several in a terminal panicle 6 inches long. Perianth red, 

 pubescent. — G. H. 



Hardwoods, Second-Growth, in Connecticut. By Earl H. 

 Frothingham (U.S.A. Dep. Agr., Forest Service, Bull. 96, May 8, 

 1912).— By far the most important facts to know in dealing with 

 woodlands are the rates of growth of the various species of trees, 

 the value of the standing timber, and the system of management that 

 will give the greatest yield of the most valuable wood in the shortest 

 period of time. The forests of Connecticut have supplied these data, 

 and the tables of value per acre and volume of timber are interesting 

 additions.— A. D. W. 



