NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



723 



bearing tufts of leaves as in a Cordyline or Yucca, some being ten feet 

 high and as thick as a man's body. Some of the species have large 

 handsome flowers. Imported plants have never done well in this country, 

 but recently some plants of Vellozia equisetoides have been received at 

 Kew from the British Central Africa Protectorate, which are flowering 

 well, as may be seen from the figure. The plant is two feet in height, and 

 bears " crowds of lilac-purple flowers two inches across, and deliciously 

 fragrant." This species attains the height of five feet. — G. S. S. 



Veronica Hulkeana. By S. W. Fitzherbert (Gard. p. 115 ; 15/8/ 

 03). — This shrubby New Zealand Veronica is without doubt the most 

 beautiful of its section. In the late spring a plant such as is illustrated, 

 which fills a wall space 4 feet by 4 feet, is a lovely picture, being covered 

 with long branching flower panicles of a delicate lavender colour. The 

 one drawback to it is that large plants often die in an unaccountable 

 manner, generally after flowering. — E. T. G. 



Veronica virginica. By S. Arnott (Journ. Hort. December 

 17, 1903, p. 535). — A very striking and distinct hardy herbaceous 

 plant from North America, growing four feet or more high. The type is 

 dull white. There is a variety with purple flowers called var. sibirica ; by 

 crossing these, distinct shades of colour as well as different habit may be 

 obtained. It is a good flower for cutting for tall vases. — C. W. D. 



Vines, A new Disease of (Le Jard. August 20, 1903, p. 242).— An 

 alarm is raised of a disease which has appeared in Sicily, in which the 

 plant withers branch by branch. It is said also to attack Figs. 



C. W. D. 



Vines, Famous {Gard. p. 320; 7/11, 03). — An illustrated account 

 of the most famous Vines in Great Britain, with particulars as to their 

 size, age, and yield. — E. T. C. 



Vines in late Frosts. By L'Abbe A. Jannin (Ann. Soc. Nant. des 

 Amis Hort., 1903, p. 76). — The Abbe repeats the observation that, in the 

 wholesale destruction of Vines during the April frosts of 1903, those . 

 branches which were not fastened at all, while not entirely escaping 

 damage, certainly suffered less than those which had been tied in to wire 

 supports. — M. L. H. 



Vines, Seedling Varieties of Cape Origin. By D. G. Fairchild 

 (U.S.A. Dep. Agr. Bur. PI, Ltd., Bull. 25, p. 13).— Three varieties 

 described : (1) ' Red Hanepoot ' Grape ; (2) Vitis rupestris metallica ; (3) 

 V. rup. 1 Le Roux.' The first of excellent eating quality, the others useful 

 as good grafting stocks. — E. A. B. 



Weeds, and how to kill them. By L. H. Dewey (U.S.A. Dep. 

 Agr., Farm. Bull. 28, 1902; 11 figs.).— Gives general methods to be 

 adopted for the eradication of annual, biennial, and perennial weeds, and 

 describes ten weeds, including the European introductions Lactuca 

 Scariola, Chondrilla juncea, Daucus Carota, Avena fatua, and Camclina 

 sativa, giving the best methods to be adopted for their destruction in the 



