3 §4 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 



its production. It occurs chiefly upon southern -grown seed potatos, and 

 it is suggested that growers should use only northem-grcwn tubers as seed, 

 since they are not apparently affected by the disease. — A. B. 



Reclamation of an Unproductive Marsh Soil in Kanaker Region {U.S.A. Exp. Stn., 

 Purdue, Bull. 170, vol. xvii. Dec. 1913 ; 22 illus.). — The addition of ground 

 limestone, at the rate of 4 tons to the acre, rendered the unproductive lands 



reproductive. 



It was discovered during the experiments that nitrification went on in the 

 unproductive lands, although excessively acid, at nearly the same rate as in the 

 others, but the leached water extracts contained large proportions of aluminium 

 nitrate. AJurninium had therefore been acting as a base. 



Although the nitrate contents were almost equally high in the unproductive 

 soils, corn could not be profitably grown, so that it was thought that some other 

 factor determined the matter. 



A series of experiments were then carried out with water cultures containing 

 suitable nutrients, and in the results it was found that quite dilute solutions of 

 aluminium nitrate had a toxic action on plants, but the addition of calcium 

 carbonate in excess nullified their action. — C. P. C. 



Rock Garden in Autumn. By E. H. Jenkins {Garden, Sept. 5, 1914, p. 

 445). — While the greater flower wealth of the rock garden is found from March 

 to June, the writer notes an increasing desire to extend the flowering season as 

 much as possible. He suggests selecting from the genus Campanula such forms 

 as fragilis, isophylla, Barrelieri, Stansfieldi, garganica in variety. In addition 

 there are the hardy Heaths of importance and beauty, Crocus species in consider- 

 able variety, hardy Cyclamen, Polygonums, Sedums, Colchicums, Stern bergias 

 and Zauschnerias, all which should be planted with freedom ; Saxifraga Fortunei, 

 could be made a feature, and the Violettas are worth specializing in. The more 

 profuse-flowering alpines, such as Androsace lanuginosa or Campanula mural is, 

 not infrequently provide a secondary display, and carpeting subjects should not 

 be neglected, especially for preserving the Crocus flowers when in blossom. The 

 writer adds a schedule of suitable subjects, with their height, aspect, colour, 

 and other particulars. 



There are other articles on the same subject by K. L. D., Garden, November 28, 

 1914, p. 57S, and by Alva J. Hall, December 12, 1914, p. 595. — H. R. D. 



Roses, Banksian, How to Make them Rower. Notes by Alice S. Rolfe, Mary 

 C. Bond, Rev. F. C. Dutton, and E. Tring {Garden, Dec. 19, 1914, p. 605). — The 

 writers of these notes agree on the whole in finding the desired result attained by 

 growing the plants in poor soil and letting them run practically wild. — H. R. D. 



Roses, Cotoneaster as a Stock for. By C. Turner S . 7 ::-<;. Aug. 1, 1914, 

 p. 3S6). — The writer records an instance of a Rose ' William Alan Richardson,' 

 eleven or twelve years old, budded on a stock of Cotoneaster Simonsii. — H. R. D. 



San Jose Scale. By H. T. Fernald {U.S.A. Exp. Sin., Mass., Ann. Rep. 

 Jan. 1914, pp. 57a and 58a). — An active and efficient parasite on this pest has been 

 discovered. In 191 3 it was extremely abundant, in some cases parasitizing over 

 90 per cent, of the scales in the branches of the plants examined. — A. P. 



Saxiiraga Boydii, A White Sport of. By E. Heinrich {Garden, March 2S, 

 1 91 4, p. 155). — More than fifteen years ago the author reported that a specimen 

 plant of S. Boydii had suddenly yielded white flowers in some parts of the tuft. 

 With this change to white also resulted the more robust growth of the var. alba, 

 which it resembled in every* respect. The author rejects the possibility of a 

 shred of the white variety having got into the cushion, and has had further 

 proof that it must have been a sport. The previous autumn (191 3) he divided 

 a large clump of S. Boydii into 250 plants. A number of these bore yellow 

 blossoms, but one onset with two rosettes bore a pure white flower on one, 

 the other remaining barren. 



Ib. By E. H. Jenkins [Garden, May 2, 1914, p. 214). — The interest of the 

 case referred to by M. Heinrich centres in the fact that the raiser of 5. Boydii 

 first stated that it resulted from two white-flowered sorts, 5. Burseriana and 5. 

 Roebeliana, and it was not till the plant flowered at Kew some years later that 

 the parentage S. Burseriana x aretioides was suggested. The author considers 

 that in S. Boydii alba there is nothing to suggest either S. Burseriana or aretioides 

 influence, but much to suggest such a combination as S. Burseriana and Roebeliana % 



H. R. D. 



