ABSTRACTS. 



277 



Acclimatisation Experiments. By Prof. G. Roster {Bull. B. Soc. 

 Tosc. Ort. 2, 3, 4, pp. 35, 67, 103 ; February, March, and April 1902).— 

 These were conducted in the' Garden Ottonella on the island of Elba. 

 The garden is subjected to strong easterly winds, being more protected 

 from the westerly winds blowing from the sea. The mean annual 

 temperature of the island is 15'8°, -that of winter 8-7°. Rain is scarce, 

 having a mean annual fall of 600 mm., but so distributed as to leave a 

 long period in spring and summer of absolute dryness modified by abun - 

 dant dews. The prevailing winds in spring and summer are the N.W. 

 and S., in winter the N. and E. As the soil of the garden is naturally 

 hard, compact, stony, and poor in humus, containing a large proportion 

 of silica, resulting from the disintegration of quartz and other rocks, it 

 becomes necessary to mix good arable soil, leaf-mould, sand, and manure 

 therewith, if Palms, Vines, and other plants are to be grown at all. The 

 question of the mechanical and physical properties of the soil playing a 

 more important role in the acclimatisation of plants than the chemical 

 and petrographical properties do is next discussed, especially the vary- 

 ing power which different soils possess of inducing the circulation of 

 heat, moisture, and gases ; e.g. lime and magnesia appear to possess 

 an influence in diminishing the calorific conductibility of the soil. 

 Peaty soil exhibits the most, and sand the least, constant temperature of 

 all. In this garden summer is found to be the best season for planting, 

 as in autumn very heavy rains and gales prevail. Experience shows that 

 young plants flourish better than old ones when planted out, especially 

 Palms and other plants, which are used to a warm temperature. Giving 

 artificial shelter to the plants is a mistake and unfair to acclimatisa- 

 tion tests. The wind is the great enemy of the Garden Ottonella. The 

 plants which suffered from the mechanical action of the wind were 

 the Palms : Seaforthia elegans, Ptychosperma Alexandres, Cham&dorea ,. 

 Hoivea, Bhopalostylis ; and Musa Basjoo (especially), M. paradisiaca, M. 

 sapicntum, and M. Ensete. Of those which proved indifferent to winds 

 were : Phoenix, Pritchardia, Brahea, Washingtonia robusta., Cocos sp., 

 Juhcea spectabilis, Sabal, Latania borbonica, Livistona, and all the 

 Cycads. Those whose young leaves and shoots are affected by the salt 

 winds are : Spiraeas, Tecoma grandiflora, Mina, Bosea Yervamora, Cuphea 

 joridlensis, Bougainvillaea glabra, Brugmansia suaveolcns, Mackaya bella, 

 Plcroma vimineum. Cactacece, Amaryllidacece, and Liliacece proved to 

 be refractory to both violence and saltness of the wind. Those which, 

 after three or four years' introduction, suffer from sun-heat, are : 

 Chamcedorea (especially), Hoivea, Bhopalostylis, Seaforthia, Ptyclio- 

 sperma, Caryota. Those which resist it are : Phoenix (especially), Jubcea 

 spectabilis, Cocos sp., Pritchardia filif era, Washingtonia robusta, Brahea, 

 Cltamcerops, Bhapis flabelliformis, Bhapidophyllum Hystrix, Nannor- 

 rlwps Bitchicana, and all the Cycads. Cocos W eddelliana is very delicate 

 and sensitive. Others which are sensitive are mentioned, such as Musa, 

 Coffea, Hoya, Pleroma, Draccena, Mina. The Palms most resistent to 

 drought are: Jubcea spectabilis, Phoenix sylvestris, Brahea Boezh\ 

 Chamcerops humilis, Nannorrhops Bitchicana. Cycads do not require 

 much watering, except when forming young leaves. Cacti, Liliacece, 

 Amaryllidacece require some watering in summer. Acacias withstand 



