NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



649 



valuable advice re buying and using fertilisers. The form of guarantee 

 often given with fertilisers is commented upon, and the following 

 example is quoted : — 



Nitrogen ..... 



. 0-82 



-1-64 



Nitrogen as ammonia 



. 1-00- 



-2-00 



Soluble phosphoric acid . 



. 6-00- 



-700 



Reverted phosphoric acid . 



200- 



3-00 



Insoluble phosphoric acid . 



. 1-00- 



-2-00 



Total phosphoric acid 



. 10-00- 



-12-00 



Bone phosphate of lime . 



. 22-00- 



-25-00 



Available bone phosphate of lime 



. 18-00- 



-20-00 



Available phosphoric acid . 



. 8-00- 



-10-00 



Potash 



. 4-00- 



-5-00 



Equivalent to sulphate of potash 



. 8-00- 



10-00 



This lengthy guarantee gives in its simplest terms : 



Nitrogen 0-82 



Available phosphoric acid . . . .8-00 

 Potash 4-00 



Such statements are misleading if only through their length, and the 

 bulletin perhaps voices a needed warning to purchasers in this country. 



F. J. C. 



Figs, Forcing in pots. By G. Wythes (Gard. Mag. No. 2597, 

 p. 523; 8/8 f 03). — An excellent account of the methods of forcing Figs 

 in pots at Syon House. The best varieties are enumerated, and details of 

 culture are given. — W. G. 



Flax and Seed Selection. By L. H. Bolley {U.S.A. Exp. Stn. 



N. Dakota, Bull. 55, 1903). — A brief retrospect of the annual production 

 of Flax seed in North Dakota and a comparison with that of other States, 

 the former nearly equalling the whole of the latter combined. This rate of 

 production is attributed largely to the virgin soil, which, however, is found 

 to diminish after a few crops have been gathered. The question as to 

 whether the Flax should not be grown for its fibre in addition to its seed 

 is discussed. Flax, Linum usitatissimum, thrives in all temperate regions. 

 Russia, however, produces more fibre than all other countries combined, 

 the United States and British India being close behind in seed production. 

 Of 29,184,000 bushels produced in U.S.A. during 1900, North Dakota 

 alone was responsible for 13,000,000 bushels. Owing to early autumn 

 frosts in 1902, the estimated damage was from 11 to 14 million bushels 

 of seed, which would have otherwise increased in one year to 25 million 

 bushels. Continued cropping also had considerable effect on the yield per 

 acre, and in some areas the crop was almost a total loss owing to the wilt 

 disease. Up to this time the greater part of the seed used was of a mixed 

 kind of inferior quality, and in many cases it was not considered free from 

 spores of the disease. The principal cause of disease was Fusarmm lini. 

 A second species (unnamed) possesses also the same destroying power. 

 There are also species of Colletotrichum and Alternaria which attack 

 plants in young stages. The remedies recommended are (1) to obtain 



z 



