584 



JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Horticulture in U.S. America (U.S.A. Soc. Amer. Florists 

 and Ornam. Horticulturists, Bep. 22nd Conv. 1906). — The convention 

 of 1900 met at Dayton, Ohio. The report contains an account of the 

 business proceedings of the Society, and prints the papers read and 

 discussions which took place at .the meeting. The papers and dis- 

 cussions were upon " Reform of Postal Rates," " Teaching Horticulture 

 in Public Schools," "The Ideal Private Gardener and his Work," and 

 " Reform of Tariff on Glass."— F. J. C. 



Hydrastis canadensis, Germination of. By H. Hus (Bep. Miss. 

 Bot. Gard. 1907, pp. 85-94 ; 1 plate). — A description of experiments as to 

 the most favourable conditions for the propagation by seed of the Golden 

 Seal of the United States Pharmacopoeia. Fresh seed and a uniformly 

 moist soil protected from extremes of temperature are essential. — G. S. B. 



Indigofera hebepetala. By D. Prain (Bot. Mag. tab. 8208).— 

 Nat. ord. Leguminosae. Himalaya. Considerable shrub ; leaves, petiole 

 7-8 inches, pinnate ; leaflets 1 J— 2^ inches long ; racemes twenty to forty 

 flowered ; flowers with dark crimson standard and rose-coloured petals. 



G. H. 



In-breeding" in Corn. By E. M. East, Ph.D. (U.S.A. Exp. Stn. 

 Conn., Bien. Bep. 1907-8 ; pp. 419-428). — The author reviews the changes 

 in method adopted in breeding maize during the past decade and the 

 principles underlying the process of improving the plant. The idea that 

 the constant selection of fluctuating variations would yield improved races 

 has had to be abandoned, for it is found that when constant selection of 

 the extreme variation is carried out there is at least a tendency to return 

 to the race average rather than to the average of the selected seed parents. 

 The author considers that it is better to breed, not by selecting one indi- 

 vidual, but by selecting several of the best yielding types and keeping the 

 race at its best by selecting fluctuations and giving them the best possible 

 environment. — F. J. C. 



Insects, Uniform Common Names for. By A. F. Burgess 

 (Jour. Econ. Entom. i. 3 ; pp. 209-213). — Suggestions for the use of 

 uniform common names for insects — a consummation devoutly to be 

 wished but difficult of attainment. Meanwhile it would be well always 

 to ensure that the scientific name of the insect under discussion is quoted, 

 which, unfortunately, is not always the case even in the publication 

 containing this paper. — F. J. C. 



Larch Saw-fly, The Large. By C. G. Hewitt (Jour. Bd. Agr. xv. 

 1908, ]). 049; 4 figs., 1 map). — This pest (Nematus erichsoni) has been 

 dealt with in the Journal of the Board of Agriculture xiii. (1906), 

 pp. 385-394, and this paper describes its present distribution in this 

 country and supplements the former paper by detailing the life-history, 

 parasites,' and natural enemies of the pest. The attack is at present 

 confined to the Lake District. Remedial measures, especially spraying 

 with arsenite of copper at the rate of 1 lb. to 150 gallons of water, and 

 handpicking (the larva' feed close together) are suggested. Various birds 



