708 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



should all be taken into account. Many specimens of variation are given 

 by way of illustration. — C. W. D. 



Seeds, How Plants scatter their. By W. C. W orsdell (Gard. Chron. 

 No. 865, p. 55 ; July 26, 1303 ; cont. No. 866, p. 86, & No. 867, p. 101).— 

 The author in this paper gives a very interesting account of the different 

 ways in which various plants are enabled to scatter their seeds, a process 

 which is so necessary in preserving the life of a species, and describes the 

 formation of certain seed-vessels which, when shaken by the wind, scatter 

 their seeds to some considerable distance. Some seeds, by reason of their 

 small size and lightness, are carried long distances by the wind ; others 

 have wings or other appendages which enable them to be transported afar 

 by the same agency. Some seed-vessels, when their contents are ripe, 

 burst open suddenly and with much force, scattering their seeds in all 

 directions. Many other contrivances are mentioned for the dispersal of 

 seed, among them the various ways in which they are carried by animals. 



G. S. S. 



Seeds, Tests of Vitality of Vegetable. By E. H. Jenkins (U.S.A. 

 Exp. Stn. Conn., Rep. 1902, pp. 424-431). — Results are given of the tests 

 of vegetable seeds for several years past tabulated, so that the comparative 

 viability of seeds of various ages may be easily seen. The results show 

 usually but not universally a gradual diminution in the number of 

 living seeds, demonstrating that other factors play a part in causing 

 mortality among seeds as well as age. More Onion seed was tested than 

 any other kind, and the average percentage of germination dropped from 

 76*5 for one-year-old seed to 21*9 for three-year-old. — F. J. C. 



Seeds, Transport of Delicate {Bev. Hort. October 16, 1903, p. 

 467). — The Direction of Agriculture at Madagascar sent seeds of He ceo, 

 brasiliensis from Colombo, in layers in cocoa-nut fibre, in cocoa-nut fibre 

 dust, and in charcoal powder ; and after a month's journey, of those in 

 cocoa-nut fibre, just damped only, not wet, 80 per cent, germinated, as 

 against about 60 per cent, in dust, and about 50 per cent, in charcoal, the 

 last germinating much more slowly, and the resulting plants less vigorous. 



C. T. D. 



Seeds, Vegetable : Age for Sowing* (Bev. Hort. July 1, 1903, 

 p. 304). — M. Georges Bellair, in a report on the Horticultural Congress at 

 Paris, says that M. Grosdemange presented a paper on the advantage in 

 many cases of sowing seeds several years old in preference to new ones ; as r 

 for instance, Carrots 2 years, less foliage, roots better colour ; Endive 3 or 4 

 years, to prevent too early seeding ; Spring Cabbage 2 to 3 years, for same 

 reason, Sec. His observations were confirmed by several authorities, with 

 the general deduction that new seeds were best for free foliation, while 

 with heart forming Cabbages, Salads, Melons, and Cucumbers, seeds 2 to 

 8 years old are preferable. Old seeds are also thought by M. Bazin to 

 form a favourable factor in doubling flowers, and M. Opoix cited con- 

 firmative instances in Diantluis. — C. T. D. 



Senecio clivorum. By Sir J. D. Hooker (Bot. Mag. tab. 7902).— 

 Nat. ord. Composite, tribe S en ec ion idee. Native of China and Japan. It 



