NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



143 



Bulbophyllum sociale Rolfe {Dot. Mag. t. 8761; 1918). — Native of Sumatra. 

 A plant for the tropical house, growing well under the cultural treatment suitable 

 for B. virescens. The flowers are showy, deep orange, slightly veined with red ; 

 the lip is rose-coloured and long-clawed. — L. C. E. 



Calcium Arsenite and Arsenate as Insecticides. By E. B. Holland and J. P. 

 Buckley {Jour. Econ. Entom. vol. xi. August 191 8, pp. 354-357). — It is suggested in 

 the circumstances occasioned by the war it may be necessary to find other sources 

 of arsenicals in addition to those usually employed. Calcium arsenite and C. 

 arsenate have been used in the past and careful tests were made to ascertain 

 how far they could be safely used. The arsenite salt is fairly insoluble in the 

 presence of excess lime and contains 77-92 per cent, arsenic trioxide ; spraying 

 tests showed some injury even when mixed with strong (3 per cent.) lime water. 

 Much the same remarks apply to the arsenate which is practically insoluble in 

 lime water. For a safe application an admixture of lime water or Bordeaux 

 mixture is indicated. — G. W. G. 



Calosoma Beetle {Calosoma sycophanta). By A. F. Burgess [U.S.A. Dep. 

 Agr. Bur. Entom., Bull. 251, July 1915; 7 plates, 1 map, 3 tables, 3 figs.). — This 

 insect is known to occur in France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and other 

 European countries, being particularly abundant in cases where there are 

 unusual outbreaks of destructive caterpillars. Its good work is mentioned 

 in a number of European writings, and it is known to prey extensively on the 

 Gypsy moth and the Pine sawfiy. 



It has been introduced into New England, and has now become well 

 established. It is reproducing satisfactorily, and has already demonstrated 

 that it is a very important factor in the control of the Gypsy moth by natural 

 enemies. — V. G. J. 



Celery Storage Experiments. By H. C. Thompson {U.S.A. Dep. Agr. Bull. 

 579, Sept. 1917; 10 figs.). — Celery is one of the most important truck crops 

 grown in the United States. Six States — New York, Michigan, Massachusetts, 

 Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey — produce about two-thirds of the celery 

 crop, and a considerable portion of this is stored for from one to three months. 

 The old method of storing celery in the field and in houses of the cellar type 

 is not satisfactory, because temperature and moisture conditions cannot be 

 controlled. The storage of celery in cold-storage warehouses is a comparatively 

 new undertaking, and at present very little is known of the method, though it 

 promises to be very satisfactory if the celery is packed into small crates. — V . G. J. 



Cereus TunMa Weber. By R. A. Rolfe (Bot. Mag. t. 8779; 1918). — Cac- 

 taceae. Native of Costa Rica. A small spiny shrub, shoots, slender, green and 

 four-angled. The flowers are solitary, lateral, about 2 \ inches long and rose- 

 lilac in colour. The fruit is yellow, spiny, and said to be edible. — L. C. E. 



Chlorplcrin, Fumigation with. By Wm. Moore {Jour. Econ. Entom. vol. xi. 

 August 1918, pp. 357-362). — The discovery of the extremely high toxicity of 

 chlorpicrin to insects has opened up the possibility of its use in fumigating grain 

 and clothing. A careful series of experiments showed that it is much rrfore 

 powerful than carbon-bisulphide and has greater penetrating powers. Providing 

 the seed is dry and thoroughly aired after fumigation, germination is not affected. 

 It will injure neither dress materials nor their colour when free from impurities 

 of chlorine and nitrogen peroxide. At present it cannot be obtained on the 

 market, but inquiries from chemical manufacturers indicate that it can be manu- 

 factured and sold at a cheaper rate than CS 2 . It also has the advantage of not 

 forming an explosive mixture with air unless unduly heated. — G. W . G. 



Cocnroach Control, Experiments on. By E. V. Walter ( Jour. Econ. Entom. vol. xi. 

 October 1918, pp. 424-429). — These experiments show that finely powdered 

 boric acid scattered in the haunts of cockroaches forms an easy and safe means 

 of getting rid of this pest. The more usual mixture of borax and sugar proved 

 to be much less effective. Borax and boric acid are said to be able to kill as a 

 contact insecticide as well as a stomach poison. The method in which the boric 

 acid acts is explained in the following way : Roaches have the habit of extreme 

 personal cleanliness, and if covered with dust or powder will, if unmolested, clean 

 themselves. It is in this way and not as food that the finely powdered boric 

 acid is eaten. If sugar is added the mixture is heavier and is likely to cake, 

 hence the lower efficiency obtained by the mixture as compared with the boric 

 acid alone. Borax will not kill the eggs, hence the powder should remain for 

 some time or the treatment be repeated after a few weeks. — G. W . G. 



