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JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



tissue. He recalls the close analogy between Gnetum and Angiosperms 

 demonstrated by recent observers ; and, with Eichler, places Juglandacecz 

 among the lowest of the latter, perhaps on a level with Piper acea. 



M. Hi 



Fern-prothallium, an Alga-like. Note by A. P. W. Thomas, 

 University College, Auckland, N.Z. (Ann. Bot. vol. xvi., No. 61, p. 165 ; 

 March 1902). — " The prothallium (of Schizcea bifida) is quite unlike the 

 ordinary types of Fern-prothallia, and is strongly suggestive of an Alga. 

 A good specimen has the form of a soft-looking, round green cushion, 

 from a quarter to half of an inch in diameter. Erect green filaments can 

 be seen projecting above the general surface even with the naked eye. . . . 

 Filamentous prothallia are already known in Tricliomancs, and, as is 

 well known, small more or less filamentous prothallia occur in many 

 Ferns when spores are sown too thickly. But these starved filamentous 

 prothallia bear male organs only. The prothallia of Tricliomancs are 

 incompletely filamentous. . . . The prothallia of Schizcea, however, are 

 completely filamentous throughout, not only the antheridia, but also 

 the archegonia being produced on filaments." The author describes his 

 observations at some length. — B. I. L. 



Fertiliser Analyses, Autumn, 1901. By B. W. Kilgore, State 

 Chemist, Illinois (U.S.A. St. Bd. North Carolina, vol. xxiii., No. 2, Fe- 

 bruary 1902). — A short paper on fertilisers used by farmers on fall crops 

 for comparison of the relative values. The following are amongst the 

 substances mentioned and described : " Water-soluble Phosphoric Acid," 

 " Reverted Phosphoric Acid," " Water-soluble Ammonia," and "Organic 

 Ammonia." The ammonia included under the last heading is such as 

 that in cotton-seed meal, dried blood, fish scrap, &c. These materials 

 are insoluble in water, and before they can feed plants they must decay 

 and have their ammonia charged by the aid of the bacteria of the soil to 

 nitrates, similar to nitrates of soda. They are valuable then as plant 

 food in proportion to their content of ammonia. A table of valuations 

 for 1901 is given. — V. J. M. 



Fig", the Cultivation Of. By Numa Schneider (Bev. Hort. pp. 143- 

 145 ; March J 6, 1902). — General culture and descriptive list of ten 

 varieties recommended. — C. T. 1). 



The Fig 1 . By R. H. Price and E. A. White. (Bull. No. 62 ; 12 photo 

 plates. Texas Agric. Exp. Stn., 1902). — Very little has been done in 

 Texas along the line of commercial Fig cultivation, the Fig being only 

 grown as yard or lawn trees. 



In some sections of Texas attempts have been made to dry the Fig, 

 but owing to the unfavourable climatic conditions at those places this has 

 been unsuccessful. The authors treat briefly of the early history of the 

 Pift its varieties included under tfalfee classes : Caprifigs, Smyrna Figs, 

 and Adriatic Figs* They are also arranged under the three colours: 

 brown, yellow, and black, witli descriptions of each variety. 



