NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



583 



NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



Aeonitum gymnandrum. By 0. Stapf (Bot. Mag. tab. 8113).— 

 Nat. ord. Banunculaceae ; tribe Helleboreac ; Tibet and W. China. 

 Annual ; leaves uniform, tripartite ; sepals violet to deep blue, upper 

 helmet-shaped, lateral clawed. — G. H. 



Aeonitum Napellus, var. eminens. By 0. Stapf (Bot. Mag. 

 tab. 8152). — Nat. ord. Banunculaceae ; tribe Helleboreac ; Rhenish 

 Prussia. Herb, often 7-9 feet high ; panicle very large, 3-5 feet long ; 

 flowers intensely purplish-blue or variegated. — G. H. 



Agriculture, Historical Sketch of U.S. Department of. By 



C. H. Greathouse (U.S.A. Dep. Ayr., Bar. of Publications, Bull. 3; 

 1907; 2 plates and 9 figs.). — A history of the inception and growth of 

 this department, with an account of its objects and present organisation. 

 A history of the wise administration of a great national organisation for 

 the furtherance of a national industry and of a great expenditure amply 

 justified. The appropriations for the department have from 1839-1906 

 totalled $65,438,391.19, that for 1906 being $7,175,690 (more than 

 double that for 1901) while from 1839-1843, the appropriation was 

 $2,000.— F. J. C. 



Alkali, Reclamation of White-ash Lands affected with, at 

 Fresno, California. By W. W. Maekie (U.S.A. Dep. Agr. t Bur. of 

 Soils, Bull. 42 ; July 1907). — The extent of lands containing too great a 

 quantity of alkaline salts is enormous in some parts of the States, and 

 this bulletin goes thoroughly into the question of the areas affected in 

 this district, and describes the origin of the excessive quantities of alkali 

 in the soil. The effect of the alkali on the plants is that the " root 

 crowns" of young plants become seared, and the tender rootlets become 

 corroded, carbonates and chlorides of sodium being specially injurious ; 

 while when the alkali enters the plant the outer portions of the leaves 

 blacken, the leaves may become yellow and drop prematurely, so 

 weakening the growth. The leaves may also be caused to form yellowish 

 rosettes at the tips of the branches, particularly in such plants as apple, 

 pear, aj5ricot, nectarine, and peach. Certain crops are adapted to alkali 

 soils, palms and eucalyptus growing particularly w r ell ; while among fruits 

 pomegranate, fig, olive, and pear are very resistant. The methods which 

 produce the best results in improving the soil are under-drainage and 

 flooding (the bulletin should be consulted for details) ; but other methods 

 are in use, such as the use of gypsum (this does not appear to be 

 invariably successful in accomplishing the desired purpose, but generally 

 improves the texture of the soil) ; constant tillage, which checks evapora- 

 tion and so prevents the rapid rise of alkali ; use of farmyard manure, a 

 method largely and successfully used by Italian and Chinese gardeners ; 



