NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



mixed manures gave by far the largest yields in the order named, the highest of 

 those dressed with a compound manure being 7 tons 1 cwt. to the acre, the lowest 

 of those dressed with home -mixed manure being 8 tons, the highest 8 tons 

 10 cwt. 3 qrs. to the acre. — F. /. C. 



Prickly Pears of Australia. By J. H. Maiden (Agr. Gaz. N.S.W. vol. xxv. 

 pp. 883-4 ! 1 P noto » 1 c °l- pl^te). — Opuntia cochinellifera, the cochineal cactus, is 

 the best to grow in Australia. It may be used as food for pigs, but has not a 

 high nutritive value. The high percentage of fibre it contains renders it a 

 doubtful food for herbivora. — 5. E. W. 



Primula vinciflora (Bot. Mag. tab. 8564). — South-Western China. Nat. Ord. 

 Pyunulaceae, tribe Primuleae. Herb, perennial. Leaves 3 £ inches long. Scape 

 1 -flowered. Corolla violet, 2 inches across, with purple centre. — G. H. 



Primula vittata (Bot. Mag. tab. 8586). — Szechuau. Nat. Ord. Primulaceae, tribe 

 Primuleae. Herb, perennial. Leaves oblanceolate, 6 inches long. Scape 

 7-8 inches high, white-floury above, 6-16-flowered. Corolla \ inch across, 

 purple. — G. H. 



Primulas, New Chinese. By I.yB. Balfour (Gard. Chron. Ap. 17, 1915, p. 207; 

 3 figs.). — Primula brevifolia, P. gracilenta, and P. florida, which this year have 

 flowered for the first time in cultivation at Edinburgh, are figured from photo- 

 graphs of the living plant. — E. A. B. 



Prunus niicrolepis var. Smithii Koehne. By W. J. Bean (Kew Bull. 

 No. 2, p. 51). — This plant has been in cultivation under the name Prunus Miquel- 

 iana for some years (see Journal R.H.S. pp. xxxviii., ccxxxviii, cclviii, cclx), 

 and is remarkable for flowering in November. It has semi-double, pale pink 

 flowers, and was introduced from Japan by Mr. T. Smith of Newry, after whom 

 it is named. — F. J. C. 



Raspberry or Clay-coloured Weevil. By J. C. F. Fryer (Jour. Bd. 

 Agr. xxi. pp. 832-835 ; Dec. 1914). — This weevil (Otiorhynchus picipes), the 

 ' clay-coloured,' ' red-footed,' or ' raspberry' weevil, is frequently very destructive 

 to nursery stock. An account of a particular attack is given in which pears 

 and black currants suffered severely. First the leaves only, then the buds, 

 ends of twigs, and bark of younger branches were eaten by the beetles. The 

 attack began in April and continued to July 1914- The older portions of the 

 orchard escaped attack. The severity of the attack varied among the 

 individual trees of one variety (e.g. ' Conference ' Pear) to a remarkable extent. 

 The orchard had not been kept clean, and the larvae had probably fed upon the 

 roots of the weeds. Lead arseniate spraying proved ineffective as a means of 

 destroying the beetles, and hand picking had to be resorted to. — P. J. C. 



Rhododendron fastigiatum. By W. J. Bean (Kew Bull. No. 2, p. 51, 

 1914). — A dwarf pale purple rhododendron from W. China, collected by G. 

 Forrest. — F. J. C. 



Rhododendrons, New. By W. J. Bean (Kew Bull. 1914, p. 201 ; plate). — 

 Notes on the characteristics of Rhododendron auriculatum, R. crassum, R. Han- 

 ceanum, R. longistylum, R. lutescens, R. moupinense, R. quinque folium, R. rotun- 

 difolium, R. Souliei, and R. Williamsianum are given, R. Hanceanum and 

 R. moupinense being figured. — F. J. C. 



Rhododendrons, New. By W. J. Bean (Kew Bull. 1914, p. 382). — Rhodo- 

 dendron adenopodum, R. argyrophyllum, R. calophytum, R. Davidii, R. discolor, 

 R. Faberi, R. longesquamatum, R. pachytrichum, R. Przewalskii, R. strigillosum 

 are described. They are all new Chinese species. — F. J. C. 



Ribes x wollense. By W. J. Bean (Kew Bull. No. 2, p. 49, 1914 ; plate). — 

 Describes a new hybrid between the black currant and the gooseberry from a very 

 old plant. It approaches the gooseberry in foliage and flower, has black fruits 

 in racemes with a suggestion of black currant in flavour. It is said to be distinct 

 from R. x Culvcrwelli and R. x Schneideri, both reputed gooseberry-black-currant 

 hybrids. — F. J. C. 



M 2 



