156 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Ligustrum strongylophyllum. By S. A. Skau (Bot. Mag. 

 tab. 8069). — China. Nat. ord. Oleaceae ; tribe Oleineae. An evergreen 

 small tree. Flowers white. (The illustration shows the corolla as very 

 pale-yellow.) — G. II. 



Lime-Sulphur-Salt Wash and its Substitutes. By J. K. Hay- 

 wood (U.S.A. Dep. Agr., Bur. Chem., Bull. 101 ; February 1907).— This 

 bulletin contains an account of a chemical study of this important wash 

 so much used as a winter spray against various species of scale in the 

 States. It was found that from 45 to 60 minutes' boiling was necessary in 

 order to dissolve all the sulphur contained in a wash of the following com- 

 position : lime 30 lb., sulphur 20 lb., salt 15 lb., water 60 gals. Longer boil- 

 ing resulted in some loss of sulphur. At the end of the boiling the sulphur 

 is in the form of thiosulphates -84 gr., sulphides 2*91 grs., sulphates and 

 sulphites -01 gr. ; total 3*76 grs. (Total sulphur in the amount used 

 3 - 89 grs.) The thiosulphates and sulphates are somewhat increased by 

 more prolonged boiling. Salt was found to have no influence on the 

 composition of the wash so far as the sulphur was concerned. It was 

 found that one part of lime to one of sulphur gives more than enough lime 

 to cause all the sulphur to go into solution, and it is suggested that a wash 

 containing 20 to 22*5 lb. lime and 22 lb. sulphur to 50 gallons of water 

 should be experimented with. Slaked lime gives a wash of almost the 

 same constitution as quicklime, but if the lime has become converted into 

 carbonate it is, of course, of no use. Experiments demonstrated that a 

 satisfactory wash cannot be made with the heat generated only by quick- 

 lime. Flowers of sulphur and flour sulphur gave washes practically 

 identical in composition, but "crystalline" sulphur gave very variable 

 results, and even when ground to a very fine powder it dissolves much 

 more slowly than either of the other forms. It appears from a considera- 

 tion of the changes taking place in the wash after its application that only 

 in a dry climate will it be of great effectiveness ; in a wet or damp one 

 most of the soluble compounds of sulphur will be lost and the insecticidal 

 value of the wash very greatly reduced. Investigation showed that 

 when lime 30 lb., sulphur 20 lb., salt 15 lb., caustic soda 10 lb., water 

 60 gallons, are boiled together, practically all the sulphur goes into 

 solution as salts of sodium of a similar nature to those of lime in the 

 first case, and more oxide of calcium will remain than in that giving with 

 the caustic soda a more caustic wash ; the best wash is made by adding 

 the ingredients in the order — sulphur, caustic soda, lime. But in a damp 

 climate the sodium wash would be even more easily washed off than the 

 lime wash. It is recommended, on purely theoretical grounds, that a 

 trial should be given in dry districts to a wash made by making 19 lb. of 

 powdered sulphur into a paste with not more than 5| gallons of boiling 

 water, add 10 lb. caustic soda, and stir occasionally for half an hour, then 

 add 44 gallons of water, stir, and the wash is ready for use. — F. J. C. 



Linospadix Micholitzii. By C. H. Wright (Bot. Mag. tab. 8095).— 



New Guinea. Nat. ord. Palmeae; tribe Areceae. A stemle3s palm. 

 Leaves 2-3£ feet long, 7 inches wide ; spadices slender, unisexual, 

 l$-2£ feet long ; flowers small greenish. — G. IL 



