NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



157 



Linum corymbiferum and Linum corymbulosum. By 



J. Paquet (Le Jardin, vol. xxi. No. 488, p. 182 ; June 20, 1907).— The 

 ' Golden Flax ' and the ' Yellow Flax ' are two valuable plants, rivalling the 

 Gypsophyllas for table decoration. The former is an annual about 

 18 inches high, with small golden flowers ; the latter is taller and has 

 larger yellow flowers. Indigenous to France, they are not on the market. 

 Autumn sowing is recommended, the seedlings being kept under glass 

 through the winter and planted out in spring. — F. A. W. 



Liriodendron tulipifera L. By A. Bedene (Bull. JR. Soc. Tosc. 

 Ort. 10, 1906, p. 301). — Native of North America, where it occurs in 

 damp spots and along rivers. It is easily naturalised in France and in 

 a large part of Europe. It prefers a light, loamy and deep soil, a 

 temperate climate, and an open, damp spot. It is usually multiplied by 

 seed sown in spring in a position having a northern aspect, or in autumn 

 in a spot with a southern aspect. They are sown in a light soil ; during 

 the winter the seed beds are covered with a layer of leaves or straw 

 manure ; during the summer they are watered, and this attention must 

 continue for two or three years. In colder countries the seeds are sown 

 in pots, which are taken under cover in»the winter. 



In the third or fourth year the seedlings are planted in the open 

 ground, 30 cm. (1 foot) apart. 



It bears transplanting with difficulty, and is not easy to establish after 

 a certain age. It is best planted on reaching a height of about two metres 

 (6 feet about) ; it should be transplanted in spring. After five or six 

 years there is no danger to be feared from cold It does not get attacked 

 by insects, but will not stand much pruning What moderate pruning 

 in the later life of the plant takes place should be done always in March. 

 It grows rapidly, the annual shoots often being more than a metre (3 feet) 

 long. Some individuals reach 30 metres (100 feet) in height, with a trunk 

 diameter of a metre (3 feet). In America there are specimens having a 

 height of 45 metres (150 feet) and diameter of trunk of 3 metres. It has 

 a white alburnum, rather like that of the white poplar, but heavier and 

 compacter. As it rapidly decomposes in the open air it should only be 

 used indoors. The central wood is lemon-yellow in - colour, more durable 

 than the alburnum, and may be employed for many purposes. 



There appear to be two types : one with yellow, soft, and fragile 

 wood ; the other with hard, heavy, white wood. This probably depends 

 on local influences and varied development of the wood in plants of 

 varying age. Very varied articles are made from the wood ; the natives 

 make boats out of a single piece of the trunk. 



The bark, especially that of the roots, is more odorous than the 

 wood and has a very bitter taste ; it is used in the manufacture of beer 

 for giving taste and smell to the latter ; it has also medicinal properties. 



This plant has two distinct varieties : the one (L. t. marginata 

 aurea) has fine broad leaves, having white margins in spring and yellow 

 in autumn ; the other (L. t, pyramidalis) has an erect habit in the form 

 of a pyramid and is very vigorous. 



The tulip-like flowers are well known. — W. C. W. 



