NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



*59 



of Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia where it grows naturally. The factors 

 which combine to make it particularly suitable for commercial timber-growing 

 are : The ease with which it reproduces itself and forms pure, well-stocked 

 stands ; its rapid growth and the wide range of sites on which it will grow ; the 

 many uses to which its wood is adapted ; the comparative cheapness of logging 

 and milling the timber, and the good prices which its lumber commands. 



Loblolly pine is not fastidious in its soil requirements, and grows on a great 

 variety of sites. It is in fact adapted to a wider range of soil conditions than 

 any of the pines with which it is associated, though it grows best on deep, moist, 

 well-drained, porous soils. — A. D. IV. 



Lonlcera fragrantissima (Bot. Mag. tab. 8585). — China. Nat. Ord. Capri- 

 foliaceae, tribe Lonicereae. Shrub. Leaves elliptic, to 3 inches long. Flowers 

 white, geminate. Corolla 2-labiate, f inch from top to base. — G. H. 



Meconopsis rudis {Bot. Mag. tab. 8568). — Western China. Nat. Ord. 

 Papaveraceae, tribe Eupapavereae. Annual herb. Stem to 3 feet high. Leaves 

 rosulate. Blade 3-5 \ inches long. Flowers in racemose cymes, 3 inches across. 

 Petals 6-8, bright blue, flushed with purple. — G. H. 



Moss, The Eradication of. By R. G. Stapledon {Jour. Bd. Agr. xxi. pp. 812- 

 816 ; Dec. 1914). — Reports some experiments on manuring pastures, and shows 

 that superphosphate in the cases quoted had a marked effect in reducing 

 moss. As is pointed out, however, many mosses, not all of which want the 

 same conditions, grow in pastures, and these may require different treatments. 

 Further study is therefore necessary. — F. J. C. 



Mycorrhizas of Forest Trees. By W. B. McDougall (Amer. Jour. Bot. 

 vol. i. Feb. 1914, pp. 51-74; 4 plates). — This paper begins with a brief review 

 of work of previous investigators, then follow the species of trees studied 

 and the methods of experiments, terminating with a list of references to the 

 literature of this subject. The list of trees whose mycorrhizas were studied 

 included Carya ovata (Mill.) K. Koch, Quercus alba L., Tilia americana L., Betula 

 alba var. papyrifera (Marsh) Spach. — with ectotropic mycorrhizas ; Acer saccha- 

 rinum L. and A. rubrum L., with endotropic mycorrhizas. For comparison 

 Larix, Populus, Fagus, Carpinus, and Ostrya were examined and found to have 

 ectotropic mycorrhizas, while Juglans, Crataegus, Aesculus bore endotropic 

 mycorrhizas. None was found on Cornus, Ulmus, Salix, and Sassafras. 



The ectotropic mycorrhizas are readily recognized by the clusters of short 

 branches resembling coral branching rootlets. They vary in colour from white 

 to bright yellow, red, or dark brown. On the other hand, the endotropic my- 

 corrhizas are easily distinguished from the normal roots by their beaded 

 appearance. 



From an exhaustive investigation, the author concludes that the ectotropic 

 mycorrhizas of forest trees are not in any sense symbiotic associations, but are 

 instances of parasitism of fungi on the roots of the trees ; while the endotropic 

 mycorrhizas are sometimes symbiotic associations, and sometimes associations 

 in which the fungus is an internal parasite on the roots. Both types of mycorrhizas 

 are annual, being formed during the summer, reach their fullest development in 

 the autumn, live through the winter, and die in the spring. 



As soon as a mantle of mycelium is formed over a root, any further growth of 

 the root in length is inhibited. Thus the root is stimulated to form branches, which 

 in turn become infected and so produce a coral-like cluster of branches. 



The mycelium of the ectotropic mycorrhizas belonged to Russula sp. 

 on Tilia americana ; Boletus scaber var. fuscus on Betula alba var. papyrifera ; 

 Cortinarius sp. on Betula alba var. papyrifera ; and Scleroderma vulgare on Quercus 

 alba. 



Four or more different species of fungi may form mycorrhizas on the same 

 tree.— A. B. 



Narra Fruit, The. By W. Vessfeld, B.A., B.Sc. {Agr. Jour. Cape G.H. 

 vol. vii. No. 4, April 1914 ; pp. 520-522). Further report on analyses of 

 Walfish Bay soils. — This report was the result of investigations undertaken for 

 the purpose of ascertaining the possibility of cultivating the Narra bush in 

 desert countries other than Walfish Bay territory. The results obtained do 

 not conclusively show in which type of soil the Narra will or will not grow. 

 In the Narra bush we have an exceptional plant, and in the locality where it 

 grows an exceptional soil. The plant has the power of growing rapidly through 

 any sand which may cover it, being unhampered by leaves. In addition its 



