NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



803 



generally straight and free from knots ; it wastes little substance in 

 the formation of side branches, while a greater weight can be obtained 

 from a given area than of any other conifer, excepting, perhaps, the 

 native Scots pine. The timber is extremely light, yet twice as 

 durable as other conifers. 



Experiments with the Douglas fir prove that it does not compare 

 with the larch, while the Corsican pine, though hardy and of very 

 rapid growth, is difficult to transplant, and produces a too heavy 

 resinous wood, not so durable as could be desired. For profitable 

 planting the Scots pine comes next to the larch ; it is cheap and easily 

 transplanted, perfectly hardy, and produces a large quantity of fairly 

 valuable timber. The tree is little subject to disease, covers a vast 

 range of soils, and will produce excellent timber on those of a poor 

 gravelly nature. — E. B. 



Sugar-Beet Web-worm, The. By H. O. Marsh (U.S.A. Dep. 

 Agr., Bur. Entom., Bull. 109, pt. vi. ; Sept. 1912 ; 15 figs.). — The 

 author considers the following formulae most efficient in dealing with 

 this pest : — 



(1) 3 lb. Paris green, 6 lb. whale oil soap, 100 gallons water. 



(2) 3 lb. Paris green, 3 lb. lime, 100 gallons water. — V. G. J. 



Sugar Cane, Red Rot of. By E. J. Butler and A. H. Khan 

 (Mem. Dep. Agr., India, Bot. Ser. vol. vi. pp. 151-178 ; Oct. 1913 ; 

 plates). — The authors show that the red rot of sugar cane, due to 

 Collelolrichum falcatum, is mostly spread by means of infected sets, 

 that by choosing sets from healthy stocks the disease may be almost 

 entirely avoided, and that many of the Indian varieties are very 

 esistant to the attack of the fungus. — F. J. C. 



Sulphur-Arsenical Spray Injury. By J. P. Stewart (U.S.A. 

 Hort. Soc, Virginia, Rep. 1912, pp. 245-254). — The recent extensive 

 use of lime-sulphur solutions in combination with the ordinary lead 

 arseniates as a summer spray has resulted in widespread complaints 

 of injury. The precautions to be adopted which are here suggested 

 are based primarily on the results of tests and experiments during the 

 past four years, though the investigations are not yet completed. 



A. P. 



Sweet Peas, Asters, and Other Plants, A Disease of. By G. Massee 

 (Bull. Roy. Boi. Gard., Kew ; No. 1, 1912, pp. 44-52 ; plate). The 

 parasite concerned is Thielavia basicola Zopf. Its morphology is 

 dealt with, and in addition to the Torula stage, which is the one 

 usually present on diseased material, the conidial (Milowia) and 

 ascigerous stages are figured. 



" Excluding trees and woody plants the fungus appears to be 

 practically omnivorous," although in this country Asters and Sweet 

 Peas have suffered most. Asters, when attacked by this fungus, are 

 always, in the author's experience, killed outright in the seedling stage. 

 In the case of Sweet Peas a " very common symptom of the disease 



3 g 2 



