T>82 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



them at full under the following heads : Generic characters, branching, 

 leaf-cells, under-leaves, the female branch, gemmiferous branches, com- 

 parison of the genera Odontoschisma, Anomoclada and Cephalozia. The 

 paper concludes with full descriptions of five species. — G. H. 



Odontogrlossum crispum var. marienfeldiense (Gartenflora, 

 1/11 03, p. 5G1 ; pi. 1520). — A coloured plate and brief description of 



this recently ncted form of 0. crispum— J. P. 



Oils, Ethereal, Use of, in Plants. By Kienitz-GerlofT (Bot. Zeit. 

 May 16, 1903, pp. 150-1). Abstract from 'Flora,' 1903, 92, pp. 147-199, 

 hy Karl Detto. — These oils are considered by some authorities to serve as 

 checks upon transpiration, lowering the temperature of the plants by 

 their evaporation. Others, however, regard them as a protection against 

 damage by animals and insects, especially as many xerophytes secrete no 

 such oils under circumstances of drought which would render them of 

 service in the former respect. The surface glands, therefore, are regarded 

 by the writer as purely protective, since snails avoid them, though they 

 will devour the plants if freed from oil by alcohol and subsequently 

 washed. Ants also avoid them owing to their adhesive nature, according 

 to trials made with Dictamnus albus. The mimicry between Lamium 

 album and Urtica does not deceive rabbits, which devour the former 

 and avoid the latter. — C. T. D. 



Olearia Gunnii (Gard. p. 313 ; 9/5/03). — Though not so hardy as 



its New Zealand relative, O. Haastii, it is not exceptionally tender, and 

 good bushes of it may be seen in flower in Herefordshire. O. stellata was 

 for some time considered a distinct species, but is now only recognised 

 as a variety of O. Gunnii. It succeeds best in a sunny position and is 

 not particular as regards soil ; and although it cannot equal O. Haastii 

 in the number of its flowers, it has a far more graceful habit, which 

 renders it more ornamental as a garden tree. — E. T. C. 



Olives in Andalusia. By C. Sprenger (Bull. B. Soc. Tosc. On. 11, 

 p. 330 ; November 1903). — The value of the Olive Oil obtained annually 

 in Italy is 200,000,000 lire, while that of Spain amounts to 250,000,000 

 lire. In 1897 Tunis possessed 10 million Olive-trees, producing annually 

 25 million lire worth of cil. While in Italy the Olives grown are tall and 

 thick of stem, as in Calabria, in Spain they are dwarf and in the form of 

 low shrubs even in the richest soil. Three or five trees are planted 

 together, forming in time a compact mass whose branches touch the soil 

 and whose crown shades the ground. They cover the valleys and hills, 

 rising to a height of 200 metres above sea-level. No other kind of culture 

 interferes with them in any way. The Olives are easily gathered, even by 

 boys, and are never beaten down from the trees. The fruit is always 

 superior to Tuscan, which is gathered from mature or semi-mature, and 

 often spoiled land. Parasites, such as Mosca olearia, Lecanium Olece, and 

 ( thors, are more easily kept at bay. In planting, the plants never lose 

 their fruiting-wocd, nor suffer from winds or bad weather. Nothing but 

 Olive-gardens is seen throughout the rich country of Sierra Morena, and 

 towards Estremadura. In January the shrubs are covered with black 



