ABSTRACTS. 



285 



a clayey medium having a pebbly subsoil. The Asparagus grown at the 

 Cascine is in great demand at the Florence market. It is greatly attacked 

 by insects, such as May-bugs, cockchafers, mole-crickets, as also by snails. 

 The former usually appear towards the end of May, laying their eggs on 

 the filiform leaves, which hatch in four or six days, the larvae feeding on 

 the leaves and the parenchymatous tissues of the stalks. As regards the 

 perfect insects the best remedy consists in shaking the plants over a 

 vessel containing soapy water ; but for the larva?, which cling too tightly 

 to the plant, it is best to use an insecticide. — W. C. W. 



Aster Amethyst, of the class Paeony-flowered Aster and Aster 

 'Miss Roosevelt.' By Otto Putz (Die Gart.$. 257, 1/3, 1902; with 

 coloured plate). — Evidently two very fine pink and blue coloured German 

 Asters. — G. B. 



Aster Tradescanti. By Sir J. D. Hooker (Bot. Mag. tab. 7,825).— 

 Nat. ord. Composites, tribe Asteroidece. Native of eastern N. America. 

 This is the original Michaelmas Daisy, first introduced prior to 1633 by 

 J. Tradescant, gardener to Charles I., into his garden, Lambeth. There 

 are two varieties : one with blue flowers, which A. Gray referred to 

 A. paniculatus ; the other (here figured) is white with yellow disc florets. 



G. H. 



Aster Worms. By H. Friend (Gard. Citron. No. 796, p. 202; 

 29/3/1902). — In a long article on the small worm (Enchytrceus parvulus) 

 the author discusses the possibility of its being the larval form of a larger 

 member of this genus, or of the two species (if so be that there are two) 

 living together in symbiosis. No definite conclusion is come to, but 

 the arguments in favour of both theories are given at length. — G. S. S. 



Aubrietias. By G. G. (Gard, Mag. No. 2514, p. 3 ; 4/1/1902).— An 

 instructive article describing the various kinds of Rock Cresses, their 

 propagation and culture. The writer suggests various positions for these 

 plants in rockeries, on vertical walls, and in borders. Their most im- 

 portant use is in wall gardening, which should be carried out in every 

 garden where practicable. To the list of good kinds the writer should 

 have added the variety ' Dr. Mules,' undoubtedly the richest and deepest 

 purple of all. — W. G. 



Azaleas. By G. G. (Gard. Mag. No. 2521, p. 114 ; 22 2/1902). — A 

 descriptive account of the Azalea section of Rhododendron that are hardy 

 in the open air. The writer traces the origin of the so-called Ghent 

 Azaleas, but now the varieties are so numerous and so diverse in characters 

 from interbreeding that it is a difficult matter to trace them to any 

 particular parentage. By the introduction in recent years of more species, 

 such as A. occidentalism Vaseyi, Schlippcnbachii, and others, hybridists 

 may be able to extend the variation in colour, form, and growth into this 

 valuable class of shrubs. Illustrations are given of A. sinensis (mollis) 

 and American or Ghent Azaleas. — W. G. 



Bachelor's Buttons ? What is the (Gard. Chron. No. 788, p. 69 ; 

 1/2/1902). — This name has been given to no less than twenty different 



