NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



283 



wounds) ; (4) wounded tubers should not be stored; (5) the storehouse 

 should be disinfected. — F. J. C. 



Preserving- Fruit, A New Method of. (Gartenflora, April 15, 

 1908.)— Mr. Elwood Cooper, a Californian Horticultural Commissioner, 

 is reported to have discovered a method of preserving fruit in nitrogen. 

 The fruit is first packed in papier-mache eases rendered impervious to air, 

 but provided with a small opening. These cases are then placed in an 

 iron receptacle from which the air is exhausted. The iron vessel is 

 then filled with nitrogen and the openings in the cases closed by some 

 mechanical means. 



It is claimed that cases of fruit treated in this way remained perfectly 

 sound and fresh for several months.-- W. B. D. 



Primulas, New. By S. Mottet, with a Note by " Hort " (Le Jardin 

 vol. xxii. No. 512, p. 182, June 20, 1908; with 5 figs.).— A useful 

 summary of the newer varieties of Primula, mostly taken from notices in 

 the Gardeners Chronicle. They are, however, figured all together. 



F. A. W. 



Prunus tomentosa. By 0. Stapf (Bot. Mag. tab. 8196).— Nat. ord. 

 Bosaceae, tribe Pruneae. China. Shrub 4-5 feet high ; bark deep 

 chestnut brown ; flowers white, § inch diameter ; fruit hairy, scarlet. — G. H. 



Puya violaeea. By W. B. Hemsley (Bot. Mag. tab. 8194).— Nat. 

 ord. Bromeliaceae. Chili. Shrub flowering more than once ; including 

 inflorescence about 3 feet high ; leaves linear, with small marginal prickles ; 

 inflorescence 20 inches high ; sepals green ; petals deep violet, 2] inches 

 long. — G. H. 



Rhododendron Mariesii. By J. Hutchinson (Bot. Mag. tab. 8206). — 

 Nat. ord. Ericaceae, tribe B/iodoreae. Central China. Shrub 3-6 feet 

 high ; leaves 2J inches long, f-1^ inch broad ; flowers pale pink with 

 purple spots on the upper segments, H inch across ; anthers purple. — G. H. 



Rhododendron mieranthum. By T. F. Chipp (Bot. Mag. tab. 

 8198). — Nat. ord. Ericaceae, tribe Bhodorae. N. China and Manchuria. 

 Shrub small, leaves oblanceolate, 1-2 inches long ; racemes many-flowered ; 

 corolla rotate- campanulate, \ inch diameter, milky white.— G. E. 



Rhodesia, Southern, A Contribution to the Botany of. By 



Miss L. S. Gibbs (Jour. Linn. Soc. Bot. vol. xxxviii. p. 425 ; pis. 17-20).— 

 After some remarks on the climate the author gives a general sketch of 

 the vegetation of the country and then proceeds to particularize. She 

 describes twenty-three new species. The paper is illustrated with eight 

 photographs showing the vegetation in various parts of the district. 



G. S. S. 



Rhus typhina var. filicina (Die Gartenw. 45, p. 534, August 8, 

 1908).— Resembles B. typhina var. laciniata, but differs in the more 

 compact growth, and in the leaves, which reach 70 centimetres in length, 

 and are glaucous green, with beautiful yellow and scarlet autumn 

 tints. — G. B. 



