ABSTRACTS. 



359 



Sugar Cane (Jour. Imp. Agr. Dep. W.I. vol. iii. pp. 29-73). — Very 

 valuable papers are given on experiments with seedling and other Canes, 

 and also on the differing effects of different manures on different varieties 

 of Canes. Those interested in the growth of Sugar Cane will find much 

 practical assistance. Pages 73 to 85 contain a very valuable essay by Mr. 

 Howard on fungoid diseases which attack Cane cuttings. He finds that 

 the non-germination of the cuttings is almost invariably caused by an 

 attack of Thielaviopsis ethaceticus, a fungus which generally commences 

 at the cut end of the cuttings, and often destroys them while in transit. 

 He recommends the immediate destruction of all rotten Canes by burning 

 and immersing the cuttings immediately they are made in Bordeaux 

 mixture for six to twelve hours, and then when they are dry tarring the 

 ends with a mixture of half a pint of either methylated spirit or kerosene to 

 a gallon of tar. — W. IT. 



Syringa Oblata. By Sir J. D. Hooker (Bot. Mag. tab. 7806). 

 Nat. ord. Oleacece, tribe Syringece. — Native of North China. It is 

 closely allied to S. vulgaris, and is perhaps only a geographical variety. 

 It flowers, however, twelve days later, and the leaves turn a dark russet- 

 red colour in autumn. It was introduced into Europe by Fortune. It 

 flowered at Kew in 1901. — G. H. 



Tamarisks, The. By W. Goldring (Garden, No. 1588, p. 272 ; 

 26/4/1902). — As an inland plant the Tamarisk is not commonly planted, 

 owing probably to the wrong impression that seaside plants will not 

 flourish away from the sea. This article disproves such a fallacy and 

 gives cultural directions. The various species and varieties are described. 



E. T. C. 



Tea, Commerce and Adulteration of (Bull. B. Soc. Tosc. On. 

 p. 94 ; March 1902). — Chief reason why trade with China is decreasing is 

 that the cultivators in the English and Dutch colonies supply better 

 goods and at more suitable prices, and send the Tea direct from the ports 

 of origin to the European retailers without it having to pass through the 

 hands of dealers, who are largely concerned, as is the case in the various 

 Chinese ports, in the adulteration of the product. In China the adultera- 

 tion consists in impregnating the boiled Tea (i.e. Tea deprived of its aromatic 

 and extractive principles) with starch glue mixed with catechu earth (an 

 extract from a Chinese Acacia) and in sprinkling the leaf thus impreg- 

 nated with dust and fragments of Tea. — W. C. W. 



Textile Plant, A new (Apocynum venetum) (Rev. Hort. p. 7 

 January 1, 1902). — Native of Siberia (south), Turkestan, Asia Minor, 

 Northern India, Indo-China, Manchuria, and Japan. Described as 

 furnishing a very strong fibre from its stems, easily extracted, stronger 

 than flax, long, flexible, white, and silky. Used for cloth, cordage, and 

 suggested for banknote paper. — C. T. D. 



Thuyopsis Novelties. By C. Ansorge (Die Gart. p. 356 • 

 26/4/1902). Seeds gathered fourteen years ago from plants of Thuyopsis 

 dolabrata have been the means of raising a number of fine specimens; 



