NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



147 



found that some insects, e.g. the clothes louse (Pediculus corporis) , are able to close 

 the tracheae so quickly as to keep out soap solution, oils, and xylene. This point 

 may have considerable bearing on the composition of the various types of dips 

 which are likely to be successful. — G. W. G. 



Lettuce and Celery, The Handling and Precooling of Florida. By H. J. Ramsey 

 and E. L. Markell (U.S. A . Dep. Agr. Bull. 601, Dec. 1917 ; 16 figs, and tables). — 

 Decay in lettuce in transit was found to be largely due to lettuce drop, a disease 

 which enters the head mainly through the lower leaves. Experimental heads of 

 lettuce were cut just above the two or three lower leaves, and all damaged leaves 

 were removed. Consequently there was far less decaj' in transit than with the 

 usual method of cutting. 



Lettuce in cars that were precooled at the shipping point to a temperature 

 of about 40 0 F. developed considerably less decay in transit than that in ordinary 

 cars. The combination of careful cutting and precooling enabled the lettuce 

 to reach its destination in perfect condition. 



Celery is often injured in transit because it is loaded too high in the cars 

 to permit proper air circulation. Small crates insure more rapid cooling. Pre- 

 cooled celery was stored successfully for four weeks, but stored non-precooled 

 celery developed considerable decay during the same period. — V. G. J. 



Linum elegans Sprunner. By M. L. Green (Bot. Mag. t. 8769; 1918). — 

 Native of Greece. A tufted plant of about 8 inches in height which has not 

 yet been proved hardy in this country. The inflorescence is cymose, two to 

 seven flowered ; the petals are yellow, spreading, nearly an inch long. It grows 

 well in a frame, but does not ripen seeds. It can, however, be easily propagated 

 by means of cuttings. — L. C. E. 



Macodes Sanderiana Rolfe [Bot. Mag. t. 8744; 1918). — Native of the 

 Malay Archipelago. A terrestrial orchid, grown for its attractive foliage, it 

 thrives best in a mixture of sphagnum and peat fibre, under a bell-glass cover. 

 The leaves are ovate-elliptic, 2^-4 ins. long, 1^-2 ins. wide, with handsome 

 yellow reticulate venation on a deep olive-green or greenish-brown ground. 

 These plants very rarely flower and usually die after doing so ; the flowers are 

 born in a scape about a foot high and are pale green in colour. — L. C. E. 



Malus Sargentii Rehd. By W. J. Bean (Bot. Mag. t. 8757; 1918). — Native 

 of Japan. A species closely allied to M. Toringo Sieb., but differing from that 

 species in its larger flowers, overlapping petals, and larger fruit. It is perfectly 

 hardy and very attractive both in flower and when in fruit. The flowers are 

 white, about 1 inch wide, opening in May. The fruits are red, depressed globose, 

 i to £ inch wide. — L. C. E. 



Manure, Storage of, and Fly Suppression at Durban Remount Depot. By Chas. 

 K. Brain (Jour. Econ. Entom. vol. xi. June 1918, pp. 339-341). — Although the 

 depot contained close on 100,000 animals and was situated in Durban surrounded 

 by inhabitants, the excellent measures adopted for storage of manure and fly 

 suppression prevented any nuisance to the community. The stalls and paddocks 

 were swept with a hard broom daily and the manure and Utter carted to huge 

 trenches. The manure was spread to the depth of about a foot and covered with 

 £ inch of sand, ashes, or earth. It was arranged that the carting of fresh material 

 would be over this surface so that the whole would be added to foot by foot and 

 well pressed down. No disinfectants or lime was added. This method of storing 

 produces a dense peaty mass of manure which analysis shows to be of a very 

 good quality. 



It was found necessary after sweeping the stalls to use a contact spray con- 

 sisting of : 



Caustic soda 2 pounds 



Boiling water 50 gallons 



Paraffin 5 „ \ added 



Hycol 5 J while hot. 



Blue-gum branches and pieces of sacking dipped in fly bait were hung about 

 wherever flies tended to congregate. The composition of the fly bait used was : 

 Arsenite of soda ..... 5 pounds 

 Black sugar . . . . . 5-20 



Water " 25 gaiions 



The usual quantity of arsenite would be about 2 \ lb., and as this quantity 

 kills efficiently there seems no useful purpose in increasing it. — G. W. G. 



