ABSTRACTS. 



1133 



ABSTRACTS 



FROM CURRENT HORTICULTURAL PERIODICALS. 



Acacias, Greenhouse. By W. Dallimore {Garden, No. 1623, 

 p. 445; 27 12/1902). — Many of the Acacias suitable for greenhouse 

 culture are excellent indoor flowering plants, for they are easily grown, 

 require little fire heat, and flower profusely either planted out in borders 

 or when growing in pots. Upwards of 400 species are known, and of 

 these about one fourth are in cultivation at Kew. A descriptive list of 

 the most useful species is given. — E. T. C. 



African Flora XXIV. By A. Engler (Engl Bot. Jahrb. xxxiii. 1902, 

 pp. 1-208 ; 18 11 1902).— Includes the following papers : " The Plankton 

 (Chlorophyccce and Cyanophyccce) of Lake Nyasa and other lakes in the 

 African Interior," by W. Schmidle. "East African Fungi II.," by 

 P. Hennings, with description of new forms. " African Grasses III.," by 

 R. Pilger, containing a discussion of the relation between the section 

 Ptychophyllum of the genus Panicum and its relation to the genus 

 Setaria. The author regards Setaria as forming with Ptychophyllum a 

 section of Panicum. He also describes new species of Panicum and 

 allied genera. " African Orchids VII.," by F. Kranzlin ; descriptions of a 

 number of new species in various genera. " African Dichapetalacece II.," 

 by A. Engler and W. Ruhland ; descriptions of a number of new species 

 of Dichapetalum. " African Lientibulariace®" by F. Kamienski ; notes 

 on distribution and description of new species. " African Moracece II.," 

 by A. Engler; description of new species. "African Urticacea," by 

 A. Engler ; description of new species in various genera. " African 

 Violacece," by A. Engler, including notes on the systematic subdivision 

 of Binorea, and description of new species. " African Passifloracea," by 

 H. Harms ; description of a new genus Schlechterina, and new species of 

 Tryphostemma and Aclenia. " African Leguminosce" by H. Harms ; 

 description of new species. " African Acanthacece VI.," by G. Lindau ; 

 description of new species. " African Billeniacece," by E. Gilg ; a re- 

 vision of the African species of Tetracera. — A. B. B. 



Alkaline lands of Colorado. (U.S.A. Exp. Stn. California, Ball. 

 140, and supplement, 2/1902). — These papers give an account of the 

 composition of the soil in this part of the States. The soluble salts 

 vary from 8,480 to 170,880 lbs. per acre, the average being 46,000 lbs. 

 per acre, i.e. 11 per cent. Of this about j is common salt and § Glauber salt. 

 To prevent the rise of alkali in the soil frequent and deep cultivation is 

 necessary. A list of twenty-two plants native in the region is given and 

 a long list of possible crops, together with tables and letterpress showing 

 the maximum amount of sodium sulphate (Glauber salt), sodium 

 carbonate, sodium chloride (common salt), and total alkali various trees 



