ABSTRACTS. 



1143 



Climbing' Plants, New Observations on Torsion-movements 



in. By Wilhehn Voss (Bot. Zeit. part 12, pp. 231-52, Dec. 31, 1902 ; 

 with 2 plates and 5 woodcuts). — A series of interesting observations on 

 the phenomena of torsional growth in numerous climbing plants, with 

 diagrammatic records of same, as affected by different lighting, &c. 



C. T. D. 



Climbers Native in Wyoming-. By A. Nelson (U.S.A. Exp. Stn. 

 Wyoming, Bull. 50, Mch. 1902 ; 11 plates). — This bulletin pleads for the 

 use of climbing plants on houses, and suggests the following climbers ; 

 American Ivy (Partlienocissus quinquefolia, Planch.) ; Western Clematis 

 (Clematis ligusticifolia, Nutt.) ; Vitis vulpina, L. ; Hop (Humulus Lupulus, 

 L.) ; Balsam Apple (Micrampelis lobata, Greene). Directions are given as 

 to their recognition and best methods of cultivation. — F. J. C. 



Clover Anthracnose. {Zeit. f. Pflanz. xii. pp. 281-284, 1 fig.; 

 1902). — Linhart gives observations showing the wide distribution of this 

 disease in Germany and Bohemia ; he recommends steeping of seeds 

 with copper sulphate as for smut on corn. Malkoff describes the appear- 

 ance of Clover Anthracnose at Gottingen. He also describes and 

 figures another Clover-leaf spot (Macrosporium sarcinceforme, Cav.). 



W. G. S. 



Cockroaches. By C. L. Marlett ( U.S.A. Dept. Agric., Div. of 

 Entom., Circ. 57 ; 5 figs.). — The species of cockroach more commonly met 

 with in America are here described, viz. : The American " roach " (Peri- 

 planeta americana) ; the Australian "roach" (P. Australasia); the 

 common "roach," the English pest (P. orientalis) ; and the German 

 cockroach (Ectobia germanica), the most commonly distributed domestic 

 species in the Eastern States, where it makes itself particularly disagree- 

 able by gnawing books, injuring food products, &c. The life-histories are 

 briefly described, and fumigating with hydrocyanic-acid gas where possible 

 is recommended. Other remedies are the liberal use of pyrethrum powder, 

 fumigation with carbon bisulphide for twenty-four hours, or with the 

 fumes of burning pyrethrum powder or by trapping. — F. J. C. 



Cockroach, Nepenthes useful to destroy. (Bull. Bot. Dep. Trin. 

 No. 36, p. 489 ; October 1902). — Nepenthes have been found of great 

 service to grow among Orchids in the W. Indies, as the pitchers trap and 

 digest numbers of Blatta americana, which is there very destructive to 

 Orchids.— E. A. B. 



Cocoa-nut Bud Disease. ByF. S. Earle (Journ. N. Y. Bot. Gard. 

 vol. iv. Jan. 1903). — Outbreaks of a serious disease of Cocoa-nut trees 

 have occurred in Jamaica at various times. Some years ago this made its 

 appearance in the neighbourhood of Montego Bay. At present numerous 

 cases of it exist widely scattered over the western end of the island. One 

 of the first symptoms of the disease is the dropping of the immature nuts. 

 The leaves droop a little, and soon become yellow. The young flower- 

 buds, still enveloped in the spathe, rot, and finally the central leaf -bud rots, 

 and the entire top falls away. The head of the tree was in all cases 

 invaded by what seems to be a bacterial rot. The study of the disease is 



