NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



709 



is the handsomest of all the herbaceous species, being 4-5 feet high, and 

 remarkable for the very rigid red -purple pappus. The ray-florets have 

 five filaments, the flower-heads being 3-4 inches across, orange, with 

 exserted dark brown anthers. — G. H. 



Senecio tanguticus. By Sir J. D. Hooker (Bot. Mag. tab. 7912). 

 Nat. ord. Composites, tribe Senecionidce. Native of Western China. This 

 is a tall herbaceous plant from 6-7 feet high, with yellow heads in many- 

 flowered pyramidal panicles, the ray-florets being only three or four. 



G. H. 



Shade Trees. By W. A. Murrill {U.S.A. Exp. Stn. Cornell Univ., 

 Bull. 205; 9/1902; 4 plates, 25 figs.). — Brief notes are given on the 

 trees of various European and American cities, with interesting details of 

 the number of trees and of their condition. The trees of London meet 

 with considerable commendation. The author points out the various 

 sources of injury to which town trees are open, and gives a list of 

 qualities desirable in trees for street planting. They should possess 

 endurance, immunity from insect and fungal attacks, beauty and adapt- 

 ability of form, shade production, cleanliness, and longevity. The 

 special characteristics of a large number of trees are next described. His 

 selection for city planting is as follows : Quercas rubra L., Q. palustris 

 Du Eoi, Q. coccinea Wangenh., Q. velutina Lam., Q. imbricata Michx., 

 Q. Phellos L., Platanus orientalis L., P. occidentalis L., Ailanthus 

 glandulosa Desf., Acer platanoides L. The remainder of the forty-eight 

 pages is occupied with instructions as to the planting, caring, protection, 

 and pruning of the trees. An excellent and useful pamphlet on an 

 important subject. — F. J. C. 



Sideroxylon Randii. By Spencer Moore (Journ. Bot. 492, pp. 402- 

 3 ; 12/1903). — Description of a new shrubby species from the Witwaters- 

 rand, Johannesburg, collected by Dr. Rand. — G. S. B. 



Siebert, Augustus (Die Gart. p. 601, September 19, 1903). — A 

 short biography of this famous landscape gardener, creator and successful 

 manager of the Palmen-Garten at Frankfurt-on-Main. He was able, not 

 only to create by private enterprise a public establishment similar to the 

 Crystal Palace (only on a smaller scale), but also made it pay and go on 

 developing and improving from year to year while nearly all similar 

 establishments have either degenerated or have had to close their doors. 



G. B. 



Smut and Bunt on Cereals, Experiments in Combating'. By 



O. Kirchner (Nat. Zeit. Land-Forst. i. pp. 465-473 ; 1903).— Experi- 

 ments with various fungicides for treating seed-grain of wheat show that 

 hot water (54°-57° C.) gives the best result. Where this cannot be effec- 

 tively carried out, a 1 p. c. solution of formalin may be used ; both 

 methods almost exterminated bunt (Tilletia), while untreated seed gave a 

 crop which was badly infected. Experiments with Rye with sheath smut 

 (Urocystis occulta) showed that any good fungicide will suppress the smut. 

 In regard to Barley and Oat smut (Ustilago), the treatment of seed-corn 

 with formalin was not effective. — W. G. S. 



