NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



157 



Fruits, Economic Properties of some Hardy Ornamental. By W. 



Dallimore (Keiv Bull. 191 4, p. 339). — A variety of uses have been found for 

 various fruits which are passed in review here. — F. J. C. 



Girdling Fruit Trees with a Zinc Band (Queensland Agr. Jour. p. 397 ; 

 June 1914). — A wire girdle is thought to be better than ringing; it may be left 

 in position for two or three years without injury to the tree. It is simply a means of 

 constricting the stem or branch without running the risk of wounding them ; 

 it is employed on trees which have reached the fruit-bearing stage. In vigorous 

 trees there is a surplusage of wood-growth that has to be removed by much 

 labour at pruning time ; if the fruit-girdle can be used to lessen this surplusage, 

 without unduly impairing the vigour of the tree, and at the same time promoting 

 fruitfulness, it may turn out to be a valuable device. — C. H. H. 



Gongofa grossa (Dot. Mag. tab. 8562) . — Ecuador. Nat. Ord. Orchidaceae, tribe 

 Vandaeae. Epiphyte. Leaves 8-12 inches long. Scapes, pendent, i£-2 feet long. 

 Flowers 2 inches long. Sepals lanceolate, orange with purple spots. Lip clawed, 

 5-lobed. " The long, elegant racemes are most attractive, and the plant is striking 

 on account of the large size of its leaves and pseudo-bulbs." — G. H. 



Hamamelis vernalis (Bot. Mag. tab. 8573). — S.-E. United States. Nat. Ord. 

 Hamamelidaceae. Shrub, to 6 feet high. Leaves obovate, 2-4 inches long. 

 Flowers in clusters of 3-4. Petals, 4 yellow, \ inch long and wavy. — G. H. 



Indigofera Kirilowl {Bot. Mag. tab. 8580). — N. China. Nat. Ord. Legumi- 

 nosae, tribe Galegeae. Shrub. Leaves 7-9 foliolate. Flowers in racemes 6 inches 

 long, 1 inch from tip of standard to keel, rose-coloured, with purple spots at base 

 of standard. — G. H. 



Iris Wattii. By W. R. Dykes (Gard. Chron. Feb. 20, 1915, p. 95). — Seeds 

 from Yunnanfu, in S.-W. China, produced an Iris nearly resembling I. japonica, 

 but differing in its habit of producing a tall stem in the previous year to that in 

 which it flowers. This plant is here declared to be identical with I. Wattii 

 Baker.— E. A. B. 



Irises, Mr. Farrer's Chinese. By W. R. Dykes (Gard. Chron. April 3, 1915, 

 pp. 175-6). — Deals with five Irises, one of which is a new species and is described 

 fully, with Latin diagnosis, as I. Farreri. The others are recognized as I. ensata, 

 I. Henryi, I. ruthenica, and J. goniocarpa. — E. A. B. 



Ixora umbellata (Bot. Mag. tab. 8577). — Java. Nat. Ord. Rubiaceae, tribe 

 Ixoreae. Shrub. Leaves elliptic, 6-10 inches long. Flowers white, in corymbs, 

 6 inches across ; corolla £ inch across. — G. H. 



Kolkwitzia amabilis (Boh Mag. tab. 8563). — China. Nat. Ord. Caprifolia- 

 ceae, tribe Caprifolieae. A freely-branching shrub. Leaves, ovate, i| inch long. 

 Inflorescence, a dense sub-globular corymb, 2 inches across. Corolla, \ inch 

 long, white, flushed with rose-pink. — G. H. 



Larch killed by Longicorn Beetle. By B. B. Osmaston (Jour. Bd. Agr. 

 xxi. pp. 1123-1125 ; March 1915). — An account of the destruction of larches in 

 the pole stage by the longicorn beetle Tetropium gabrieli var. crawshayi. Wood- 

 peckers are regarded as the most effective ally in the suppression of this beetle. 

 (See Journal R.H.S. xl. p. 626.) — F. J. C. 



Larch-shoot Moths (Jour. Bd. Agr. xxii. p. 50, April 1915 ; 2 figs.). — 

 Argyresthia atmoriella is the common species in England, two Continental forms 

 being mentioned as being similar if not the same species. The former is widely 

 distributed and under certain conditions is capable of causing serious loss. 

 The various stages in the life-history of the moth are described and illustrated, 

 as is the damage done. The moths appear about the end of May, laying the 

 eggs on young shoots. The newly-hatched larva bores into the shoots and 

 feeds just under the skin. Little damage is done at first, owing to its small 

 size, but by the end of the following March it has devoured tissues down to 

 the wood, almost completely ringing the shoot. By May it is full fed, and, after 

 biting a hole in the bark through which the moth will escape, it pupates. 



Only plants of the genus Larix are attacked, the twigs dying owing to the 

 partial ringing. The absence of needles on lateral branches and the presence of 

 burrows and flight-holes are characteristic. It is chiefly destructive where 

 the soil is not altogether suitable for Larch. Removal of affected trees is 

 suggested where only a few trees are attacked. — G. C. G. 



