NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 
407 
Bacterial Diseases of Plants In Great Britain and Ireland, An Epitome of. 
By Sidney G. Paine (Ann. Appl. Biol. vol. v. No. i, July 191 8, pp. 62-76). — A 
general review of the study of bacteria in relation to plant diseases, with refer- 
ences to British literature on the subject. Symptoms of disease, host-plants, 
distribution, &c., in various bacterial diseases are given for white rot of turnips 
and other vegetables. Heart-rot of celery, potato "blackleg," potato and 
tomato brown rot, iris rot, yellow disease of hyacinths, black rot of cabbage 
and other cruciferous plants, bacterial blight of fruit blossoms, bacterial blight 
of tomatos, orchid leaf-spot disease, bacterial disease of Pisum sativum, 
potato scab, crown gall, and " so-called physiological diseases " — potato leaf- 
rot, potato " sprain," mosaic disease of tomatos, and silver-leaf — are dealt 
Avith. The means of control in bacterial disease are difficult and necessitate a 
vast amount of research. — R. C. S. R. 
Baikiaea insignis Benth. By J. Hutchinson (Bot. Mag. t. 8819 ; Dec. 
1919) . — Belonging to the tribe Amherstieae of the Leguminosae, tliis native of 
Fernando Po and parts of tropical Africa bears very large white flowers with 
brown sepals 4 in. long, about half the length of the petals. The plant has 
attained a height of 30 feet in the tropical house at Kew and has borne its 
fugacious flowers freely. — F. J. C. 
Bananas. By C. E. B. Walsh (Agr. Gaz. N.S.W. vol. xxix. pp. 731-736). — 
Bananas require well- drained soil rich in potash, in a sheltered position, with a 
heavy summer rainfall. They will thrive on land formerly devoted to the 
cultivation of sugar cane. If the soil shows signs of acidity, lime in moderate 
quantities must be frequently applied. The suckers are planted ten or twelve 
feet apart. They begin to bear in eighteen months. The ' Cavendish ' is only 
10 feet high ; it is hardier and has a finer flavour than other varieties, but the 
fruit has rather a delicate skin and must be packed in cases. — S. E. W. 
Bark-Boring Beetles : The Structure, Bionomics, and Forest Importance of Cry- 
plialus Abietis Ratz. By Walter Ritchie, B.Sc, B.Sc.(Agr.) {Ann. Appl. Biol. 
vol. V. Nos. 3 and 4, April 1919, pp. 1 71-199 ; figs.). — Description of the beetle, 
egg, larva, and brood galleries. Observations on the life-cycle and number of 
broods a year are given, and its economic importance discussed. Natural 
enemies play a part in checking the numbers. — R. C. S. R. 
Bees and Fruit [Agr. Gaz. N.S.W. vol. xxx. p. 208). — Bees never attack 
sound fruit, but if the skin is broken by birds, or cracked, the bees will suck up 
the juice, leaving nothing but the skin and seeds or stones. — 5. E. W. 
Berberis atrocarpa Schneider. By W. J. Bean {Bot. Mag. t. 8857, Sept. 
1920) . — Collected by Wilson in 1908 in W. Szechwan. It is nearly related to 
the black-fruited B. levis and, like that species, has scarcely visible secondary 
nerves. It is distinguished by angular, grooved branchlets, thinner, longer, 
narrower leaves more remotely toothed, and the smaller clusters of flowers (not 
more than eight). It is practically hardy. — P. J. C. 
Berberis subcaulialata. By J. Pinelle {Rev. Hart. vol. xcii. pp. 28, 29 ; 
2 figs.). — The Berberis subcaulialata of Schneider is a hardy shrub, more vigorous 
in growth than B. Wilsonae, attaining a height of 5 feet. It retains its leaves 
till December or January and bears numerous clusters of pale-yellow flowers 
in May. The red berries are highly decorative.^ — 5. E. W. 
Big Bud in Black Currants, "Reversion" and Resistance to. By A. H. Lees, 
M.A. {Ann. Appl. Biol. vol. v. No. i, July 191 8, pp. 11-27 > ^gs.) — Owing to an 
apparently close connexion between Reversion and Big Bud, the two subjects 
are treated together. Characteristics of normal growth and diseased growth are 
discussed (with comparisons between Seabrook's ' Black ' and ' Boskoop Giant ') 
and possible remedies. Reversion is characterized by " running off " of the fruit, 
unusual amount of lateral growth, sharp-pointed leaves and long thin intemodes. 
It is apparently caused by a check to the terminal growth by a change of the 
terminal wood bud into {a) a big bud, (6) a blind or killed bud, {c) a fruit bud. 
Varieties resistant to big bud revert under {b) and (c) . An unaccountable form 
of reversion occurs in young bushes before mite or aphis are present. Seabrook's 
' Black ' is mite-resistant. — R. C. S. R. 
Birds and Public Reservations. By W. L. McAtee {U.S. Dep. Agr., Bull. 715. 
pp. 1-12 ; 4 figs.). — Wild birds may be attracted to public parks and cemeteries 
by planting groups of fruit-bearing shrubs, providing water and feeding-stations, 
and erecting nesting- boxes. — 5. E. W. 
