NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



637 



Colour of Flowers. By F. W. Card and L. P. Sprague (U.S.A. 

 Exp. Stn. Bhode L, Bep. 1902, pp. 231, 232).— McDougal has stated that 

 the red colour of plants may be intensified by feeding with sugar. 

 Experiments were carried out with Stocks, Asters, Phlox, and Balsam to 

 see whether the red of the flowers was changed in any way by the addition 

 of this or other substances to the soil. The seed of each variety was 

 divided into four sections. Section 1 had no manure, 2 received sugar, 

 .3 muriate of potash, 4 nitrate of soda. 



The manures were applied about the time of flowering. None of the 

 fertilisers had any effect whatever upon the colour. — F. J. G. 



Conifers, Chinese. By M. T. Masters (Gard. Chron. No. 850, 

 p. 227, figs. 93, 94, 95, 96 ; April 11, 1903).— Dr. Masters gives an account 

 of the genus Cephalotaxus, which contains five species, three of which are 

 figured. This genus is nearly allied to our Yews, and, like them, bears con- 

 spicuous berries, those of C. drupacea being nearly 1^ inch in length 

 and shaped like an olive. A table is given of the species, showing their 

 differences, by the form, &c, of the leaves. All the Japanese and Chinese 

 species have proved hardy at Kew. Their dense, bushy, and evergreen 

 foliage renders them desirable inmates of the garden. — G. S. S. 



Conifers, Chinese, collected by E. H. Wilson. By Maxwell T. 

 Masters (Jouru. Bot. 488, pp. 267-270; 8/1903).— An enumeration of 

 the forms collected by Mr. Wilson in South-western and Central China for 

 Messrs. James Veitch and Sons, with figures of Picea neoveitchii, P. 

 Wilsoni, and Keteleeria Evelyniana, recently described in the ' Gardeners' 

 Chronicle.' — G. S. B. 



Coniferous Forests in U.S., Insect Enemies. By A. D. Hopkins 



(Yearbook U.S. Dep. Agr. 1902, p. 265). — The writer gives the result of 

 investigations made by personal survey. Two beetles stand conspicuous 

 on account of their terrible ravages, viz. the Spruce-destroying beetle 

 (Dendroctonus piceaperda) and the Pine-bark beetle (Dendroctomcs 

 frontalis). Illustrations of these beetles in all their stages are given, and 

 of the way in which they work, resulting in the destruction of whole 

 forests. Recommendations are given by means of which these pests may 

 be kept in check. — C. W. D. 



Corn Breeding, Methods Of. By Dr. Hopkins (Bull Dep. Agr. 

 Jam. vol. L, pts. 6, 7, p. 156). — The author calls attention to the 

 structure of a grain of Indian Corn, in that the outer part is horny, the 

 inner starchy, and the embryo oily. The relative proportions of these 

 three parts vary in size ; so that if protein be the object of selection those 

 grains should be selected with the largest horny portion ; if starch, those 

 with whiter part in the greatest proportion. As all the grains on a cob are 

 mostly alike, one grain will indicate the nature of all. He adds details 

 upon the practical methods of selecting and growing the selected grains. 



G. H. 



Cornus capitata. By S. W. Fitzherbert (Gard. p. 135 ; 22/8/03). 

 — From Nepaul in 1825 seeds of this handsome flowering tree were first 



