374 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Cucumber Diseases (Svampsjukdomar a svenska gurkvaxtodlingar). By 



J. Eriksson (Centralsi. jor joroksvdsendet pa jordbruksomradct, No. 76; 1913)- — 

 Descriptions of the principal diseases of the cucumber, including scab due to 

 Cladosporium cucumerinum, which attacks both fruit and foliage (for which 

 spraying with a 1 per cent, solution of formalin is recommended) ; leaf blotch 

 or brand, due to Cercospora Melonis, which also attacks fruit and foliage (for 

 which various cultural modifications are advised) ; " rust " due to Colletotrichum 

 lagenarium, which does not appear to have occurred in this country so far, and 

 which attacks leaf, stem, and young fruit. — F. J. C. 



Deutzia longifolia var. Veitchii. By S. Mottet {Rev. Hort. Aug. 16, 

 1915, pp. 536-7 ; col. pi.). — A very charming Deutzia with bunches of delicate 

 warm rose-pink flowers. — C. T. D. 



Effect of One Crop upon Another. By the Duke of Bedford and S. U. 

 Pickering (Jour. Agr. Sci. vi. May 1914, PP- 136-151). — The grassing of land 

 in which fruit trees are planted is usually followed by bad effect upon the trees. 

 The foliage and bark are of an unhealthy, light colour ; there is a deficiency of 

 chlorophyll in the fruit. The authors have now carried their experiments further 

 with other plants in order to test their hypothesis of the production by the grass 

 of a substance toxic to the trees. They report the results of their experiments 

 here, and conclude that every growing crop results in the formation of a sub- 

 stance which is toxic to the growth of other plants and still more so to itself ; 

 that by oxidation the toxin loses its toxic properties and enhances soil fertility, 

 so that plants previously poisoned eventually outstrip those which were not 

 subjected to the poison, unless, of course, the poison has already produced 

 permanent stunting. The debris from the growing plant probably accounts 

 for the formation of the toxin. They consider that heating of soil also produces 

 a toxin in it in considerable quantities, and that part at least of the increased 

 growth subsequently produced is due to the increased fertility resulting from 

 the oxidation of the toxin. — F. J. C. 



Egg-plant Disease. By L. L. Harter [Jour. Agr. Res. ii. Aug. 1914, 



PP- 33 I- 338 ; plates). — Phomopsis vexans causes a leaf-spot, stem-blight, and 

 fruit-spot disease of the egg plant. This fungus has been variously called 

 Phyllosticta hortorum, Phoma solani, and Ascochyta hortorum, and the author 

 shows that all these forms are identical and belong to the genus Phomopsis. The 

 early death of the seedlings attacked is certain, as the stem is quickly girdled, 

 while a brown, dead, finally irregular spot is produced on the foliage. The 

 diseased fruit is at first soft and musty, but later mummified and black. Neither 

 tomato, sweet-potato, Datura, nor Capsicum annuum were infected after the 

 application of the fungus. — F. J. C. 



Erodiums or Heron's Bills. By R. A. Malby [Garden, Jan. 17, 1914, 



p. 33, and fig. p. 34). — The genus is not cultivated in the alpine garden so much 

 as its beauty justifies. Many of the species are not difficult to cultivate if given 

 very gritty soil and a position open to the sun all day. E. chrysanthum, E. 

 Guicciardi, E. daucoides (carrot-leaved), E. macradenum, E. Sibthorpianum, E. 

 corsicum, E. supracanum and its beautiful white form, E. trichomane folium, are 

 recommended. Flowers are produced in quantity from May to August. 



An interesting feature is the way in which the angle of the flower-stalk varies 

 after pollination. As a rule the flowers are produced in clusters of five on short 

 stalks rising from the upper part of a rigid main stalk 5 to 9 inches long, and 

 when they open they are in the same plane as this main stalk, i.e. pointing 

 upward. After pollination the short foot-stalk bends at the point of juncture 

 at a right angle, while the fruit alters its angle on the foot-stalk so as still to 

 poi nt upward, but leaving room for the later flowers to expand. — H. R. D. 



Fermentation Purposes, Relative Value of Cane and Beet Sugar for. By 



O. Grove (Ann. Rep. Agr. Res. Stn., Long Ashton, 1914, pp. 32-33). — In 

 experiments with cider fermentations (which are described) cane sugar and beet 

 sugar were used. W here the former was used the cider kept badly and acquired 

 the taste of cane sugar, while in the latter case the cider kept well and had none 

 but normal flavour. — F. J. C. 



Flies, Borax a Preventive of (Jour. Dep. Agr. Vict. Dec. 1914, p. 744).— Half- 

 pound of borax to eight bushels of horse manure kills the fly eggs and maggots, 

 and prevents breeding of flies. Above this proportion, borax is somewhat 

 harmful to vegetation ; a quantity of borax may harm fattening pigs. 



The borax is sprinkled from a flour sifter. Borax costs i\d. to 3d. per lb. 



