ABSTRACTS. 



731 



the year. The leaves are 6-8 inches long, very dark green. Flowers in 

 large panicles, white, § ro. diam. — G. H. 



Begonia Mite. By A. D. Michael (Gard. Chron. No. 806, p. 376 ; 

 June 7, 1902). — This pest does not confine its attentions only to Begonias, 

 although they are the chief sufferers. It belongs to the genus Tarsonemus, 

 and is probably T. floricolus ; but these mites are difficult to identify. 

 They usually feed on the undersides of the leaves, when they may be 

 destroyed by paraffin emulsion, sulphur, soap, &c. But they often burrow 

 into the leaves and feed upon the parenchyma. In this position no 

 external application of insecticides is of any use, and the affected plant 

 had better be burnt. They are extremely small, and for that reason 

 often escape detection, and were not noticed until a few years ago. 



G. S. S. 



Begonias, Lemoine'S New ; B. Buisson rose and B. Perle Lorraine, 

 By L. Wittmack (Gartenflora, p. 291; 2 figs. ; 1/6/02).— B. Buisson rose 

 is a cross between B. gracilis var. diuersifolia, flowering ordinarily during 

 summer, and the winter-blooming B. polyantlia. The rose-carmine 

 flowers are produced from August to January. 



Begonia Perle Lorraine originated from B. polyantlia crossed with the 

 winter-flowering'-B. dcedalca. It blossoms from January to April ; flowers 

 white or pale rose. — J. P. 



Berberis dictyophylla. By Sir J. D. Hooker (Bot. Mag. tab. 7833). 

 — Nat. ord. Berberidece, tribe Berberece. Native of Yunnan. It has very 

 small leaves, single yellow flowers nearly \ inch in diameter, and elliptical 

 crimson berries. It flowered at Kew in 1901, ripening its fruit in Sep- 

 tember. — G. H. 



Bignonias. By W. Dallimore {Garden, No. 1,596, p. 412 ; 

 21/6/1902). — A description of " the best species in cultivation, together 

 with a few belonging to other genera, which are in gardens usually 

 spoken of as Bignonias." Cultural directions are given. — E. T. C. 



Bitter-rot Of Apples. By J. T. Burrill and J. C. Blair (U.S.A. 

 Exp. Stn. Illinois, Bull. 11 ; July 1902 ; 12 figs.).— The authors supply 

 the additional information regarding this rot (see Joum. B.H.S. xxvii. 

 pp. 227, 281, 287) that, besides spreading from " mummy " Apples 

 remaining on the trees, the disease is carried over the winter on the 

 branches where a " canker " spot, where perithecia similar to those on 

 "mummy" Apples were produced, was found, in many cases just above 

 the infected Apples. Spores from these spots produced the characteristic 

 rot on the fruit in four days, and each spot formed the apex of a conical 

 area of infection. This canker .is totally distinct from that caused by 

 Nummularia discreta, Tul. (U.S.A. Exp. Stn. Illinois, Bull. 70), which 

 usually attacks the trunk and larger branches, generally appearing on 

 branches from one inch to a half-inch in diameter. 



Infected limbs and fruit should be removed from the orchards, taking 

 care not to scatter the spores during the removal, and burnt ; Bordeaux 

 mixture sprayed on the fruits is a means of holding the disease abso- 

 lutely in check.— F. J. C. 



