NOTES AND ABSTKACTS. 



639 



it was found in abundance south-west of the Caspian Sea and south of 

 Baku, growing under the shade of low bushes at an elevation of not more 

 than 1,000 feet. The flowers vary in colour from white to a decided rosy- 

 lilac, with a more or less yellow throat. It is a handsome, large-flowered 

 species, the flowers opening well in sunshine ; its great charm is due 

 to the unusually lengthy period of its flowering. It has been recorded 

 as blooming from September to April in its wild state. — G. S. S. 



Croton * Souvenir de Louis Fournier.' By Ed. Andre (Rev. 

 Hort. August 16, 1903, p. 380 ; coloured plate). — A very brightly coloured 

 and handsome trilobed variety. Young leaves green margined with 

 orange, with venation of the same colour, but spreading into irregular 

 blotches; ultimately the green becomes very intense, and the orange 

 bright crimson. — C. T. D. 



Crown Gall of Apple Trees. By W. B. Alwood (U.S.A. Agr. Exp. 

 Stn. Virginia, Bull. 140, September, 1902 ; 12 figs.).— The following- 

 conclusions are to be derived from this communication : — That the organ- 

 ism which produces the abnormal growth known as " crown gall " on the 

 Apple appears to gain entrance to the Apple seedlings in the nursery. 

 That the unusual amount* of fibrous roots at and below the crown is the 

 characteristic to be depended upon for recognition of the trouble. Persons 

 planting fruit trees should reject with the greatest care all trees which show 

 the cancerous growth about the crown, or a sufficiently abnormal develop- 

 ment of fibrous roots about the crown to warrant belief that the plants are 

 diseased. One should not confound the knots caused by woolly aphis with 

 this disease. Apparently " crown gall" can be easily inoculated from a 

 diseased plant to healthy ones ; hence diseased plants should not be 

 allowed to remain among healthy ones in the orchard. The study of the 

 subject is far from complete, and further investigation may show that 

 there is more than one trouble occurring upon nursery stock which is now 

 attributed to " crown gall." That the disease is due to a low parasitic 

 organism which may exist in the soil and be propagated from plant to 

 plant is probable, but whether belonging to the slime moulds (Myxomycetes) 

 has not been settled, but is under investigation. — M. C. C. 



Cryptophoranthus, The Genus (Orch. Rev. Oct. 1903, p. 

 302). — The various species of this remarkable genus, known as "Window- 

 bearing Orchids," are enumerated, and interesting particulars of the 

 structural formation of the flowers, which Darwin considered a mystery, 

 in respect to its fertilisation. — H. J. C. 



Cucumber Mildew (U.S.A. Exp. Stn. Hatch, Mass., Ann. Rep. 1903 r 

 p. 29). — This fungus (Plasmopara cubensis), which, as its name implies, 

 came originally from Cuba, was first discovered in the United States in 1889 

 and has since spread throughout the southern and middle, i.e. the warmer 

 parts of the country, causing great damage. It seems chiefly to affect 

 greenhouse Cucumbers, and is of a downy appearance. A dry atmosphere 

 is recommended, and the affected leaves should be at once removed and 

 destroyed. Spraying with Bordeaux mixture on both sides of leaves has 

 been found effectual in keeping down the nuisance. — V. J. M. 



