081 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



and branches decays. He suggests a lack of sufficient drainage as the 

 cause of the disease. He then considers remedies for the destruction of 

 the beetles. Finally he describes the burrowing wasp Elis atrata, 

 which supplies its grubs with those of the beetle. It is a solitary wasp, 

 known as the ' Grave-digger,' from its habit of burrowing into the ground,, 

 in which it buries the beetle-grab, grasshopper, or other insect, after 

 paralysing it with its sting.— G. H. 



Orchard Culture, Experiments in (U.S.A. Exp. Stn. Maine, Bull. 

 89, February, 1903 ; figs, and plates). — This bulletin gives the results of 

 extensive experiments in this State, extending over several years. The 

 figures given show the relative values of mulching and cultivating, and 

 the latter in general makes a better show. All orchards do not seem 

 susceptible to cultivation, and in such cases some other method of treat- 

 ment has to be devised. A heavy mulch of hay, straw, or sawdust 

 (preferably not fresh sawdust) conserves the moisture and prevents the 

 growth of robber plants — weeds ; to this extent favouring the growth of 

 trees. As a result of long experiments it has been proved that potash 

 fertilisers greatly improve, not only the foliage, but also the fruit, both in 

 quantity and quality. An excess of potash, however, in whatever form 

 applied, had no effect in warding off attacks of the Apple scab. Orchard 

 renovation receives special notice, and diagrams are given to explain top 

 grafting, &c. — V. J. M. 



Orchard, Planting a Small (Gard. p. 315; 7/11/03).— Suitability 

 of site is often overlooked, and standard trees intended to form an orchard 

 are planted in positions where they are exposed to cold winds without a 

 thought of providing shelter. Bad drainage is another cause of failure. 

 These points should be considered before a start is made. Let every 

 planter avoid the common error of buying trees and sticking them into 

 holes in grass land, expecting them to grow without further attention. 

 Soil and situation, planting and varieties are fully discussed. — E. T. C. 



Orchards, Top-working" Of. By G. Harold Powell (Yearbook 

 U.S. Dep. Agr. 1902, p. 245). — A method is explained by which 

 unprofitable orchards may be made profitable by top-grafting, i.e. working 

 the tops of the trees with buds or scions of better kinds. Trees so treated 

 will bear three or four years earlier than if treated by grafting in the 

 ordinary way. The process is fully described, with illustrative diagrams. 



C. W. D. 



Ornaments, Garden. By Richard Davey (Gard. p. 338, 14/11/03 ; 

 ]). 859, 21/11 03). — Articles on leadwork figures as garden ornaments. 

 Lead work is most suitable for this purpose, as marble is rare and may not 

 be exposed to our humid climate with impunity. Nothing makes a finer 

 againsl a background of the rich and varied green which is so 

 peculiarly English than the dull silver grey of lead. — E. T. C. 



Osteomeles anthyllidifolia (Journ. Hort. October 15, 1903, p. 

 848). This rare native of India and the Pacific Islands has proved 

 hardy toi 3everal seasons under a south wall at Kew. It is evergreen, and 

 bears berries like those of a Cotoneaster. — C. W. D. 



