ABSTRACTS. 



763 



Iris Aschersoni. By Sir Michael Foster, V.M.H. (Garden, No. 

 1,589, p. 288 ; 3/5/1902). — A description, illustrated by two photographs. 

 It cannot be spoken of as a strikingly handsome Iris, since the colour 

 seems to be a greenish yellow with thin purple veins ; but, judging from 

 the photograph, it is very floriferous, and so will, perhaps, prove a useful 

 addition to the garden. It is interesting as being closely allied to the 

 strange I. Grant-Duffii.—E. T. C. 



Irises, New Cushion. By G. B. Mallett (Garden, No. 1,595, p. 393 ; 

 14 0/1902). — A description of two new Oncocyclus Irises, /. sofarana 

 magnified and I. lupina robusta. The w r riter says " two really magnificent 

 varieties, of strong growth, with flowers equal to those of the best of the 

 genus. Moreover, one year's cultivation, though insufficient for a definite 

 opinion, shows that they are not likely to prove difficult to manage, for 

 70 per cent, of the plants have flowers, many bearing more than one." 



E. T. C. 



Irises, New Species from Bokhara. By Sir Michael Foster (Gard. 

 Chron. No. 807, p. 385, figs. 134 and 135 ; June 14, 1902).— Two new 

 species are described and figured from among a number of bulbs sent by 

 one of Messrs. van Tubergen's collectors from Central Asia. They are 

 named respectively I. bucharica and I. ivarlcyensis. Both species appear 

 to be very closely allied to I. oreliioides, and, I should think, will very 

 probably prove to be only varieties of that species. (Fig. 174). — G. S. S. 



Irises, Oncocyclus. A test record (Garden, No. 1,596, p. 408 ; 

 21/6/1902). — The results of atrial of eight species of Oncocyclus Irises, 

 planted in four sections in as many different composts. — E. T. C. 



Iris Leichtlini. By Sir J. D. Hooker (Bot. Mag. tab. 7861).— 

 Nat. ord. Iridcce, tribe Morece. Native of Bokhara. Perianth tube 

 dilated, segments with a beard of yellow hairs ; margins undulate ; tips 

 violet-blue, with copper-coloured edges. — G. H. 



Irrigation. By C. T. Johnston, and J. D. Stannard (U.S.A. Dep. 

 Agr. Farmers' Bull. No. 158 ; 9 figures). — Deals with the construction, 

 cost, and management of small irrigation ditches. Clear instructions and 

 excellent figures are given, and the subject is divided into the following 

 sections : — 



Varying grades of ditches. Methods of running grade lines. Selec- 

 tion of site for head-gate and ditch lines. Laying out field laterals. 

 Method of applying water to crops. When to irrigate. Cost. — E. A. B. 



Irrigation. Report of Investigations for 1900. By E. Mead and 

 others (U.S.A. Dep. Agr. Office Exp. Stn. Bull. No. 104; 25 plates, 

 29 figures). — An elaborate report of investigations carried out by special 

 observers in New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, Nebraska, 

 Wyoming, Idaho, Washington, and Montana. 



The review of the investigations is by Elwood Mead, who points out 

 that, whereas many works have been planned on the assumption that 

 water enough to cover the land to a depth of one foot during the season 



