ABSTRACTS. 



287 



Bitter Rot Of Apples. By Professor T. J. Burrill (U.S.A. Hort. 

 Soc. Illinois, 1901, pp. 166-178). — Dr. Burrill, who is an authority upon 

 this and kindred subjects, has here contributed a valuable paper. From 

 laboratory experiments it seems that the spores of the fungus may send 

 their germinal tubes into the unbroken skin or epidermis of the fruit 

 within the space of eight to fifteen hours, and this quite without the aid 

 of insects. In hot weather only three to five days will often suffice for a 

 new crop of spores to appear. 



The threads originating from the germinating Glaosporium spore 

 penetrate deep into the flesh of the Apple, and where they go the pulp cells 

 of the fruit are destroyed. The colour changes to brown ; other changes 

 take place, and at last the crisp and juicy flesh becomes a tough, dry, and 

 shrivelled mass. Flies and other insects are proved to be disseminating 

 agents, and even rain-water splashes are shown to cause a spread of the 

 disease. The whole paper is exceedingly interesting and well repays a 

 perusal. — V. J. M. 



Bone Meal, The Fertilising" Action of. By Kellner and 

 Bottcher (Arm. Agr. p. 441 ; September 1901). — Bone meal does not give 

 as good a result on soil with much lime as superphosphate or basic slag, 

 although it gives a better result on soil without lime. — G. H. H. 



Botanic Gardens, Sydney, Records of the (Agr. Gaz. N.S.W. 

 p. 195; February 1902). — An interesting article dealing with the history 

 of these gardens, in which it is pointed out that the gardens in the old 

 days were actively engaged in distributing economic and other plants of 

 all kinds with the view of promoting colonisation and settling problems 

 of acclimatisation. 



The Sydney Botanic Gardens have for nearly a century been bound up 

 with the material welfare of the colony, but much of their work has, of 

 course, been for many years unnecessary by reason of the establishment of 

 so many respectable firms of seedsmen and nurserymen. The following- 

 list of vegetable seeds is interesting as showing the sorts and varieties 

 that were available in Sydney seventy years ago : — 



Broccoli — 



Marseilles. 



Early White. 



Belle Bonne. 



Dwarf Liberian. 



Large White Silesian. 



Cream-coloured. 



Radish — 



Early Sprouting. 



White Spanish. 



Cabbage— 



Black Spanish. 



Early Dwarf. 



Endive — 



Early Battersea. 



Large-leaved Bavarian. 



Imperial. 



Lettuce-leaved. 



Celery — 



French Curled. 



Celeri tres blanc gros. 



Common Curled. 



Solid Bed. 



Gourds — 



Lettuce — 



Vegetable Marrow. 



Tennis Ball. 



Cobbels. 



White Dutch. 



Potiron Jaune. 



Unions. 



Melons — 



Laitue de Malthi. 



Gem. 



Paris Cos. 



Kissing. 



