NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



625 



Treculeana, found at Cohanila and Nueva Leon. The fibre is obtained 

 from the young leaves, which are boiled from two to four hours in order 

 to extract the pulp. These fibres are 15-25 inches long. Almost all of 

 it is exported to the United States, where the importation has increased 

 from 4,000 tons in 1900 to 14,597 tons in 1906, to the value of 

 1,327,352 dollars. The cost per ton is 91 dollars. 

 The actual pric.es on the New York market are : — 



Jaumave istle . . . . 5§ to 5§ cents per lb. 



Tula istle 5 „ 5£ „ 



Palma istle . . . . 5§ „ 5^ ,, 



Tampico fibre has long been used in place of animal bristles for 

 making brushes. It is also largely used for pack-thread and cordage. 



W. C. W. 



Tchihatchewia isatidea, Bois. Anon. (Gard. Chron. No. 1089, 

 p. 325, November 9, 1907 ; figs. 129 and 130).— This curious plant is a 

 native of the mountains at the source of the Euphrates. It was awarded 

 a botanical certificate by the Scientific Committee of the Royal Horti- 

 cultural Society on April 20, 1907, when a fine specimen was shown 

 in flower by Viscountess Emlyn. It belongs to the order Cruciferae, but 

 might easily, it is said, be mistaken for a member of the Boragineae. 

 It is a dwarf-growing perennial plant, up to 10 inches in height, with 

 a corymb of red-rose flowers 4 inches in diameter, which are distinctly 

 fragrant. Directions are given for pronouncing the name of this plant, 

 which most persons will find useful. — G. S. S. 



Thalictrum, The Species Of. By G. B. Mallett (Gard. Chron. 

 No. 1032, February 23, 1907). The author gives descriptions of the 

 different species and varieties of this genus, some of which are " con- 

 fidently recommended for the flower border, rock garden, waterside, and 

 woodland." — G. S. S. 



Tobacco Plants (Nicotiana) (Bev. Hort. February 1, 1907, 

 p. 53). — Culture of N. affinis and other ornamental flowering Nicotianas 

 interdicted by Customs law relating to dutiable tobaccos, no discrimination 

 being specified. — G. T. D. 



Tuna as Food for Man, The. By D. Griffiths and R. F. Hare 

 (U.S.A. Dep. Agr., Bur. PL Tad., Bull, 116 ; December 1907 ; 6 plates ; 

 and Exp. Stn., New Mexico, Bull. 64 ; April 1907 ; 7 plates).— The 

 former of these two bulletins is practically a reprint of the latter. A very 

 full account of the species of Opuntia which produce edible fruits is given. 

 ' Tuna ' is the Spanish American synonym of the English 1 Indian fig,' 

 the American and Australian ' prickly pear,' the ' Barbary fig ' of the 

 French and the ' higos chumbos ' of Spain. In Mexico, Texas, and 

 Sicily the plant is regarded with great favour, but it is reviled in 

 Australia, South Africa, and India. The following note, in view of 

 various magazine articles on " spineless " cacti, is worth quoting. " All 

 the so-called spineless forms (the fruit of which is not spineless, however) 

 concerning which there is definite knowledge, are less hardy, especially 



