NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



597 



Sugar Industry. West Indian Conference, 1908 (Journ. Imp. 

 Dep. Agr. W. I. vol. ix. No. 1, 1908). — The following papers read at the 

 Conference are reported, with the discussions thereon : — 



"Varieties of Sugar-cane and Manurial Experiments in British 

 Guiana," by Prof. J. B. Harrison, C.M.G., &c. 



" Sugar-cane Experiments in Barbados," by Prof. J. F. D'Albu- 

 querque, M.A. 



"Sugar-cane Experiments in the Leeward Islands," by Dr. Francis 

 Watts, C.M.G., &e. 



" The Central Sugar Factory at Antigua," by Dr. Francis Watts. 



" Observations on the Work of Sugar-cane Mills, &c," by Dr. Francis 

 Watts.— M. C. C. 



Temperature, Influence of, on Distribution of Insects. By 



E. D. Sanderson (Jour. Econ. Entom. 1. 1 ; pp. 215-262). — The author has 

 compared the distribution of various insects with the distribution of lines 

 of average annual minimum temperatures in the States and finds that 

 the average annual minimum temperature determines the northern limit 

 of the distribution of the insect. The absolute minimum temperature 

 which occurs at infrequent intervals fails to kill many of the insects 

 which have succeeded in finding a sheltered situation, but where the 

 average minimum drops below the point which they can withstand it has 

 a powerful effect on checking their progress. The northern limit of dis- 

 tribution of the San Jose scale is said to be the isotherm of average 

 minimum temperature, —15° F., and of the asparagus beetle (Crioceris 

 asparagi), -10° F. — F. J. C. 



Tobacco Wilt, The Granville. By Edwin F. Smith (U.S.A. Dep. 

 Agr., Bur. PL Inch, Bull. No. 141 ; Part ii. ; August 1908). — This disease is 

 due to bacteria. The plants are commonly infected through injuries caused 

 by eel-worms. Potatos, tomatos, and other members of the night-shade 

 family are also subject to this disease. 



Bemove and burn diseased plants. Remedial measures should look to 

 reducing the number of eel-worms in the soil, and to greater care in trans- 

 planting so that the roots shall not be wounded. — M. C. C. 



Tomato Notes (U.S.A. Exp. Stn. West Virginia, Bull. 117). — 

 Contains notes on the history of the tomato, on breeding new forms, 

 field culture and forcing, and the financial aspect of the industry. 



M. L. H. 



Variation of Shape in Fruits. By Pierre Passy (La Pomologie 

 Francaise, Sept. 1908, pp. 275-283). — The terminal fruit of the pear, 

 being the termination of the floral axis, extends out beyond the others in 

 the bunch, its stem is less woody than the others, the fruit does not fall 

 spontaneously, and is the most true to the characteristic shape of the 

 variety. Variation in shape of fruit is illustrated by a photograph 

 showing 1 Doyenne du Cornice ' pears almost as round as apples, with 

 hardly any stem. — C. H. H. 



Vegetables, Profitable (Die Gartenzv. lviii., p. 691 ; Nov. 7, 1908). 

 Near Paris the " Mays sucre " is maize extensively grown for the market; 



