366 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Viscum cruciatum. By Sir J. D. Hooker (Bot. Mag. tab. 7828. — 

 Nat. ord. Lora?ithacece, tribe Viscece. Native of Spain, N.-E. Africa, 

 and Syria. It is parasitic on Olive-trees, Cratcegus, Populus alba, and 

 Pinus Pinaster. The fruit is of a dull red colour. — G. H. 



Wall Gardening* at Gunnersbury. By J. Hudson (Garden, 

 No. 1580, p. 140; 1/3/1902). — A most interesting account of how a wall 

 which was quite bare in March was covered with flowering and foliage plants 

 by September of the same year. A list of the principal plants made use 

 of is also given, together with illustrations of the wall in the above- 

 mentioned months. — E. T. C. 



Warm Water for Watering" Plants. By Jules Burvenich (Bev. 

 Hort. Beige, xxviii. No. 1, p. 17). — He recommends using water of a 

 temperature 50°-55° C. (120°-130° P.) as being very useful when the 

 plants raised in pots are enfeebled by some injurious matter in the soil, 

 produced by the presence of organic acids, such as ulmic and humic. 

 Under the influence of these acids rootlets turn brown, lose their activity, 

 the leaves become yellow, &c. After repotting the pots should be 

 plunged into the warm water for several weeks. This is followed by 

 excellent results. A complete re-establishment of the plant will be 

 secured. — G. H. 



Water-lilies from Seed. By Geo. Moulder (Joum. Hort. p. 356 ; 

 April 21, 1902). — It is perhaps not generally known that the hardy Water- 

 lilies of various colours are easy to grow from seed out of doors, and 

 flower the first year. The tender kinds are mostly as easy, but require 

 warmth to germinate ; these, too, flower in a year. Full directions are 

 here given for planting the seed and rearing the plants. Fresh seed is 

 essential to success. — C. W. D. 



Water-melons. By F. W. Rane (U.S.A. Exp. Stn., Neiv Hamp- 

 shire, Bull. 86; Nov. 1901 ; 14 figs.). — This pamphlet recommends more 

 extensive culture of the Water-melon outdoors in New Hampshire (lat. 

 44° N.). It attributes want of success in growing the crop to improper 

 culture, and states that the best kind of soil is a rich warm sandy loam, 

 well supplied with humus. A southern slope is best. The result of a 

 variety test with 51 varieties is given, together with a classification 

 of the varieties, based on the colour and shape of the fruit. It is stated 

 that " a Melon weighing between twelve and twenty-five pounds and con- 

 taining black seeds is generally preferred." The Cucumber beetle seems 

 to be the worst pest Melon growers have to fear. — F. J. C. 



Wheat Culture, Experiments in. By Luther Foster and W. H. 

 Fairfield (U.S.A Exp. Stn. Wyoming, Bull. 48, May 1901). -This 

 bulletin gives the results of various experiments in Wheat culture, which, 

 begun in 1891, are still continuing. 



These experiments included : — 



Variety tests. 



inter-tillage versus field culture, showing so far that the beneficial 

 results of the former do not compensate for the increased expense. 



