138 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



Abies flrma. By A. Bruce Jackson (Gard. Chron., Oct. 5, 1918, p. 137 ; 

 with 2 figs.). — The twentieth of this series of critical notes on conifers. Gives 

 the history, synonymy, and bibliography of this uncommon fir, and also 

 dimensions of several specimens. — E. A. B. 



Aesculus turbinata Blume. By W. J. Bean (Bot. Mag. t. 8713 ; June 

 1917). — A native of Japan. The Japanese Horse Chestnut somewhat similar 

 to the European A . Hippocastanum, but having smaller capsules, warted instead 

 of spiny. The leaves of A . turbinata are larger than any other species and in 

 autumn turn a clear golden yellow. — L. C. E. 



Allotment in Leeds and its Lesson. By A. G. Ruston, B.A., B.Sc. {Jour. 



Bd. Agr. xxv. No. 3, June 1918). — An account of an allotment divided into nine 

 plots each 50 yards by 4 yards and cultivated by professional men. Only potatos 

 were grown, but manurial and other conditions varied. The conclusions were 

 as follows : — 



It was more economical to give a medium dressing of dung and supplement 

 with artificials than to give excessively heavy dressings of dung alone. Dressings 

 at rate of 15 tons (with artificials), 57 tons, and 72 tons dung to the acre gave crops 

 respectively at rate of 9, 10, and 11 tons per acre. 



It pays to get reliable " seed " either direct or one year from Scotland. 

 Selected " seed " of ' Up to Date ' yielded 2o| tons to acre, casually picked up 

 " seed " 3-6 tons. Good " seed " of ' King Edward ' yielded 11*4 tons to the 

 acre, seed from the market only 3*4 tons. 



It pays to spray potatos. Approximately 2 tons an acre increase was given 

 where spraying was done, although little blight was present on any plot. 



If land is in need of lime, it must be applied in a fine state of division if it is 

 to become incorporated in the soil. A dressing of lime in large lumps at rate 

 of 8 tons to the acre was applied to one plot, and soil which had a lime " require- 

 ment " of 1 ton to the acre had only reduced its " requirement " by half. 



G. C. G. 



Amorphophallus Kerrii. By N. E. Brown (Bot. Mag. t. 8692; Jan. 1917). — 



A handsome warm-house Aroid from Siam with solitary, erect, glabrous, com- 

 pound leaves over 4 feet 6 inches in length, and green spathes. The berries are 

 blue. — F. J. C. 



Angulosa Cllftonii Rolfe (Bot. Mag. t. 8700 ; March 1917). — Native of Colombia. 



A plant for the intermediate house, with large golden yellow flowers marked 

 with red on petals. Distinguished from other members of the genus by the 

 widely pouched base of the three-lobed lip. — L. C. E. 



Aphis avenae, Aphis pcmi, Aphis sorbi, Eggs of, Studies on the Morphology 

 and Susceptibility of the. By Alvah Peterson (Jour. Econ. Entom. vol. x. 

 Dec. 191 7, pp. 556-569). — A close study of the egg showed that it is covered by 

 three layers : an outer semi-transparent layer, which is brittle, an inner pig- 

 mented elastic layer, and an innermost layer which is thin, transparent, and 

 surrounds the young nymph as it emerges. Certain changes take place previous 

 to hatching which result in the partial rupture of the outer brittle layer. A 

 critical period of a few days to possibly several weeks exists when the egg is 

 much less resistant than usual. It is suggested that this is of considerable 

 importance in the control of these aphids, and various experiments were conducted 

 to ascertain the best killing agents. Lime-sulphur 1-8 plus ' Black Leaf 40 ' 

 1-500 gave the best results, up to 97 per cent, of the eggs killed. Good results 

 were also obtained from carbolic acid and substances containing phenol deriva- 

 tives. Crude carbolic acid (100 per cent.) 2 c.c. to 98 c.c. of solution plus soap 

 2 lb. to 50 galls, of water applied during the crucial period killed 93-100 per cent, 

 of the eggs. — G. W. G. 



Apple Blossom Weevil, A Parasite of (Pimpla pomorum). By A. D. Imms, 

 M.A.. D.Sc, and C. Morley, F.Z.S. (Ann. Appl. Biol. vol. iv. No. 4, March 1918 ; 

 pp. 211-227; plates).— Life history and habits. Its efficiency as a parasite 



