510 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



crops : — In loam, chlorides 0-3 per cent., nitrates 0-4 per cent., carbonates 0-5 

 per cent. ; sulphates above 1 per cent. In coarse sand, chlorides 02 per 

 cent., nitrates 0-3 per cent., carbonates 0-3 per cent., sulphates 0 6 per cent. 



F. J. C. 



Allium, An, in the Mediterranean Region. By Dr. Trabut (Rev. Hort. d'Alg. 

 No. 3, March 1914, p. 95). — Allium triquetrum is very common on the Algerian 

 littoral, where it is found in the neighbourhood of houses and in gardens. It is 

 much appreciated by the Kabyl population as a winter vegetable. The writer 

 of this article made some experiments with it, and found that the wild 

 form responded wonderfully to cultural care and that it produced a most accept- 

 able new vegetable, resembling a leek, but milder in flavour. He considers that 

 it would be well worth cultivating in the gardens of the Mediterranean shores. 



M. L. H. 



Allium triquetrum. By L. Trabut (Le Jard. vol. xxviii. p. 188 ; 1 fig.). — 

 This Allium is a native of Algiers. It can be grown on the south coast of 

 France and used as a substitute for the leek. The bulbs should be planted 

 8 inches deep in good soil. — 5. E. W. 



Alpines, Propagation of, from Cuttings. By W. W. Besant (Irish Gard. 

 Nov. 1915, p. 165). — Directions for making and caring for cuttings of various 

 kinds. Wahlenbergia gracilis, Morisia hypogaea, and Anchusa myositidtflora 

 are best raised from root cuttings. — F. J. C. 



Alpinia mutica (Bot. Mag. tab. 8621). — Malaya. Family Scitamineae. Tribe 

 Zingiberaceae. Herb, perennial. Stem 6-8 ft. high. Leaves linear-lanceolate, 

 1-2 ft. long. Panicle terminal. Calyx white, with a rosy-pink tip. Petals 

 white, 1 1 in. long ; lip bluntly 3-lobed, yellow. — G. H. 



Amelanchier florlda (Bot. Mag. tab. 8611). — North America. Family Rosaceae. 

 Tribe Pomeae. Shrub, 4-10 ft. high. Leaves deciduous, ovate, serrate, if in. 

 long. Flowers § in. across, petals white. Fruit ovoid to globose, £ in. long, black, 

 with purple bloom. — G. H. 



i Apple and Pear Diseases. By G. P. Darnell-Smith (Agr. Gaz. N.S.W. vol. xxvi. 

 pp. 51-57, 105-113; 12 plates). — Bitter Pit of the Apple often appears when 

 the fruit is on the tree, but sometimes it only becomes visible in store. The 

 apples exhibit depressed roundish pits from i to ^ inch in diameter. The apple 

 turns brown, the pulp soft and shrivelled, but there is no breaking of the skin. 

 The disease is neither contagious nor infectious. Fluctuations in tempera- 

 ture and moisture are the principal factors which contribute to the development 

 of this disease. It is not due to insects, fungi, bacteria, hail, or various sprays, 

 but to the insufficient development of the terminations of the vascular bundles 

 in the fruit and the lack of nourishment of the adjacent cells. To diminish 

 the disease the following recommendations are made: — 1. Light pruning; 2, 

 thinning not to be excessive ; 3, avoid irregular stimulation in the growing period 

 of the fruit ; 4, not to pluck the crop too late ; 5, not to have the store-room 

 too dry. 



Glassiness or water core of the apple is also due to internal causes, and is 

 prevalent when the apples ripen in a rainy season. No cure is known. 



Mouldy core is found in those kinds of apples which have a small channel 

 between the eye and the interior of the core, e.g. ' Cleopatra,' ' Annie Elizabeth,' 

 and ' London Pippin.' Fungi may be blown into this open channel and cause 

 mould. 



Apple Scab is due to a fungus known as Fusicladium dendriticum, and as 

 Venturia inaequalis in another stage. To remove the source of infection, dig 

 in or burn all fallen leaves. Spray three times with Bordeaux mixture or lime- 

 sulphur, viz. when the buds begin to show colour, when the petals have fallen, 

 and about three weeks later. 



Pear Scab, like Apple Scab, is due to a fungus, in this case Venturia pyrina. 

 It is cured by similar treatment. 



Black Rot due to Sphaeropsis malorum attacks the fruit, leaves, and also 

 the twigs and branches, producing canker. All cankered parts must be cut out 

 or scraped and painted over with Bordeaux paste. Remove mummified fruit 

 and burn all prunings. Spray with Bordeaux mixture in winter. 



Valsa and Cytospora grow beneath the bark and are not reached by spraying. 

 Dead twigs should be pruned severely. 



A certain amount of damage may be done by lime-sulphur or Bordeaux 

 mixture spray. The damage to fruit by frost is often attributed to a fungus, 

 Coniothyrium. Apple leaf blotch, Mosaic disease, and chlorosis may be due 

 to absence of iron in the soil or lack of phosphates. — 5. E. W. 



