NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



149 



Mustard, Wild, Control of. By O. W. Newman (U.S.A. Dep. Agr., California 

 State Commission of Horticulture, vol. vi., No. 6, Junei9i7; 27 figs.). — The 

 author states that many noxious weeds, especially the wild mustards, including 

 Brassica campestris, B. arvensis, and B. nigra, can be largely controlled by the 

 use of chemical sprays. 



The spray most commonly used is a solution of iron sulphate, and it has 

 in every instance proved satisfactory. The usual strength is two to one — 

 i.e. 100 lb. of iron sulphate to 50 gallons of water. This should be applied to 

 the growing weeds when they are about 6 inches high ; the spray should be 

 medium fine and penetrating ; 50 gallons should cover one acre. — V. G. J. 



Odontoehilus lanceolatus Benth. By R. A. Rolfe (Bot. Mag. t. 8753 ; 

 191 8). — Native of Sikkim and Khasia. An interesting terrestrial orchid originally 

 described by Lindley as Anoectochilus lanceolatus. The plant is from 8 to 12 

 inches in height, and the leaves are green with three bright stripes. The flowers 

 are light green with a brown patch at the top of the dorsal petal ; the lip is 

 bright yellow, and the anther pink. It is a plant which thrives well in a damp 

 and shady intermediate house. — L. C. E. 



Odontoglossum praevisum Rolfe (Bot. Mag. t. 8780; 1918). — Native of 

 Colombia. A hybrid between O. gloriosum and O. Lindleyanum. The flowers 

 are borne in a many-flowered panicle 12 to 16 inches long, medium-sized, yellow 

 with brown blotches. — L. C. E. 



Orchard Bark Beetles and Pinhole Borers, and how to control them. 



By Fred. E. Brookes (U.S.A. Dep. Agr., Bur. Entom., Farm. Bull. 763, Nov. 

 1916 ; 18 figs.). — This bulletin gives a brief account of the principal bark beetles 

 and related species that attack apple, peach, plum, and other orchard trees, 

 and describes the methods most effective in controlling them. — V, G. J. 



Paeonia peregrina Mill. By O. Stapf (Bot. Mag. t. 8742; 1918). — Native 

 of South-eastern Europe and North-western Asia Minor. A natural species of 

 Paeony which has been cultivated in certain parts of Europe as far back as 

 the sixteenth century. It is a good plant for the herbaceous border and is 

 sometimes grown under the name of ' Sunbeam/ The flowers are 2^-4 in, 

 across, a brilliant deep red in colour. — L. C. E. 



Petunia integrifolia Hort. By S. A. Skan (Bot. Mag. t. 8749; 1918). — 

 Native of South America. A good species for summer bedding or conservatory 

 decoration, better known in gardens as P. violacea. The flowers are at first 

 bright rose-purple, afterwards becoming paler, outside pale rose-purple with 

 the tube outside suffused with purple and marked with deeper purple lines. 



L. C. E. 



Poisonous Urticating Spines of Hemileuca oliviae Larvae, Notes on the. By 



D. J. Caffrey (Jour. Econ. Entom. vol. xi. August 1918, pp. 363-367). — It has been 

 found that as in the case of the Brown-tail moth serious inconvenience is caused 

 by the spines with which this species is covered. Susceptible persons may have 

 an extremely unpleasant time by even walking through infested grass and 

 brushing against the larval spines. In extreme cases a hand or foot may be put 

 out of action for a time ; and it has been observed that cattle avoid grazing upon 

 infested grass. Further, something approaching asthma has been produced 

 amongst many working on the investigations by the small spines in the 

 atmosphere entering the bronchial tubes, and it is even suggested that it may be 

 necessary to transfer these individuals to another part of the country to effect 

 a cure. The urticating spines are found on several species of Hemileuca in 

 addition to H. oliviae. — G. W. G. 



Polystachya Pobeguinii Rolfe (Bot. Mag. t. 8772; 1918). — Orchidaceae. 

 Native of Tropical Africa. A plant for the tropical orchid house, thriving 

 well in a mixture of peat fibre and sphagnum. The flowers are borne in a many- 

 flowered raceme, the flowers themselves are medium-sized, bright rose, with a 

 yellow crest on the lip. — L. C. E. 



Potato Culture in Maine. By E. L. Newdick (U.S.A. Dep. Agr., vol. xvii. 

 March 1918, No. 1 ; 1 fig.). — This bulletin gives a very detailed account of 

 potato culture as practised in Maine, and contains combined formulae for " bugs " 

 and blights. — V ± G. J. 



