422 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Verbena venosa. By C. Bellair (Rev. Hort. vol. xci. pp. 387, 388). — The 

 seed of Verbena venosa germinates very slowly, but the germination may be 

 expedited by one of the following expedients : — 



Immersion in boiling water for one minute. 

 Immersion in water at 55 0 C. for five minutes. 



Keeping the seed moist with a 0-2 per cent, solution of sodium nitrate or 

 ammonium sulphate for 48 hours. 



Arranging the seed in layers between fine sand in flower-pots for five months 

 before use. — 5. E. W. 



Vinifera Grapes in New York. By R. D. Anthony (U.S.A. Dep. Agr., Exp. Stn., 

 New York, Bull. 432, pp. 82-105 ; 5 plates, 1 col. plate). — Although the European 

 Grape has been grown in California for 200 years, it is only in the present century 

 that it has been cultivated with success in the Eastern States. The cuttings of 

 Vitis vinifera are grafted on V. riparia or other phylloxera-resistant variety. 

 Before winter the vines are pruned, freed from their supports and bent down and 

 covered with six inches of soil to protect them from frost. 



The best varieties for table use are ' Bakator,' the ' Chasselas ' group, ' Lignan 

 Blanc,' 'Muscats,' 'Gray Pinot' and 'Rosaki.' The ' Pinots ' are good wine 

 grapes and ' Teinturier ' is valuable in the manufacture of unfermented grape 

 juice. — S. E. W. 



Water-holding Capacity of a Soil, Influence of Organic Matter upon. By 



F. J. Alway and Jos. R. Neller (U.S.A. Jour. Agr. Res. vol. xvi. No. 10, March 

 1919, pp. 263-278). — The paper details the result of a study of the moisture 

 conditions found in two adjacent plots in Minnesota, both of which had a silt- 

 loam soil, uniform in texture, but differing widely in content of organic matter. 

 It was found during the cool wet summer of 1915, when cultivated crops were 

 grown, the surface foot and this alone showed a very marked difference in the 

 moisture content ; the soil containing much organic matter retained a greater 

 amount of water. In the warmer, drier summer of 1918, when winter rye was 

 used, much smaller differences were found. It is concluded that in a fine- 

 textured soil, with a fine-textured subsoil and a level surface, the difference in 

 water-holding capacity, which may be caused by manuring or in cultural opera- 

 tions, exerts but little influence upon the productivity of the soil. — A. B. 



Winter Moth. By J. Lochot (Rev. Hort. vol. xc. pp. 173-174).— The Winter 

 Moth is destroyed by grease-banding the fruit-trees in October and spraying 

 with lead arsenate or Burgundy mixture before the buds open in spring, and 

 again after the fruit has set. — S. E. W. 



Wireworms, Genus Agriotes, On the Life History of. By A. W. Rymer 

 Roberts (Ann. App. Biol. vi. Dec. 1919, pp. 1 16-135, 5 fig s -. * plate). — This 

 paper gives an account of the biology and life history of Agriotes, and is 

 important as a contribution to the knowledge required to attack this pest by some 

 adequate insecticide. The eggs are laid near the roots of grasses, and such an 

 environment is only provided by grass land, waste, or badly cultivated land where 

 couch and other grasses are allowed to grow. Very full accounts are given of 

 the habits of adults, pupae and larvae, and their method of attack. 



Wireworms can undergo long periods without food, and the idea of a starva- 

 tion crop, such as Mustard, often proves useless in stamping this pest out. 



Natural enemies are given as far as is known. Gulls have proved to be the 

 most useful bird, and skylarks and pheasants are also given as allies in certain 

 districts. 



Proctotrupids, possibly Phaenoserphus fuscipes, have been hatched from 

 Athous haemorrhoidalis. 



A fungus, of the genus Isaria, is probably parasitic on Wireworms. 

 ■ G. F. W. 



Yield of Pear and Apple Trees in Victoria. By E. Wallis (Jour. Agr. 

 Vict. April 1910, p. 209). — Estimate in 1910-11, 1-76 bushels a pear 

 tree, 1*07 an apple tree; in 1913-14, 1-42 bushels a pear tree, 1*09 an r apple 

 tree.— C. H. H. 



