4l8 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Iris Hoogiana Dykes. By O. Stapf {Bot. Mag. t. 8844; June 1920). — Intro- 
duced by Mr. C. G. van Tubergen from Turkestan. It produces lavender flowers 
with a rich golden beard in May, and, like others of its section, requires to be 
lifted about the middle of July. — F. J. C. 
Iris Relchenbachia HeufEel. By O. Stapf {Bot. Mag. t. 8812 ; Sept. 1919). — 
Macedonia. This plant has proved quite hardy at Kew. It is dwarf, and 
produces its flowers, which vary from red-purple to greenish yellow, in May. It 
is easily distinguished when in flower from I. Chamaeiris by its sharply keeled 
spathe valves. — F. J. C. 
Kochia scoparia var. trichophila. By O. Stapf [Bot. Mag. t. 8808 ; Sept. 1919). 
— This form of Kochia scoparia, which turns red somewhat suddenly in autumn, 
is now fairly well known in gardens for summer bedding, although introduced 
only in 1901 by Messrs. Cannell. A coloured figure, description, and history of 
the plant in cultivation are given. — F. J. C. 
Lantana Fly. By W. W. Froggatt (Agr. Gaz. N.S.W. vol. xxx. pp. 665- 
668 ; I plate) . — The Lantana is a well-known pest in certain districts in New 
South Wales. It is attacked by the Lantana Fly (Agromyza lantanae) whose 
grubs destroy the fertility of the seed. It is only recently that the fly has been 
observed in the neighbourhood of Sydney. It appears to be identical with the 
fly from Hawaii. — S. E. W. 
Larkspur. By C. D. Marsh, A. B. Clawson, and H. Marsh [U.S. Dep. Agr., 
Farmers' Bull. 988, pp. 1-15 ; 6 figs.). — In the western states of Canada and the 
United States many cattle are lost by poisoning through eating larkspurs, 
although sheep and horses grazing on the same land do not suffer. The 
tall larkspur, Delphinium Barheyi, abounds in the mountains of Wyoming, 
Montana, Utah, and Colorado, and D. cucullatum is prevalent in Montana. 
The low- growing varieties, D. Menziesii and D. bicolor, also flourish on the 
mountains, and the white-flowered D. virescens is found in the plains east of 
the Rocky Mountains. The plants are most poisonous before they reach 
maturity. Cases of poisoning are rare after the middle of August. Cattle may 
eat 3 per cent, of their weight of larkspur with impunity. They should be kept 
out of the poison areas until the plants have matured, and the larkspur should 
be eradicated where it grows in masses. Sheep will destroy the low- growing 
larkspur, but will not touch the tall variety. 
The poisoned cattle fall down, suffer from constipation, and in severe cases 
die from paralysis of respiration. The poisoned animal should be kept as quiet 
as possible and turned with its head uphill. A subcutaneous injection of 
Physostigmin salicylate (i grain), Pilocarpin hydrochloride (2 grains), and 
Strychnine sulphate, dissolved in 4 drams of water, is administered in the 
shoulder. — 5. E. W. 
Larkspurs, Chemical Examination of Three Species of. By O. A. Beath 
[U.S. Agr. Exp. Sin. Wyoming, Bull.'No. 120, June 1919, pp. 54-88 ; 11 figs.). — 
Three species of larkspurs {Delphinium glaucescens Rybd., D. Barheyi Huth., 
and D. Geyeri Greene) are commonly found in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, 
at an elevation of 7,000 feet on mountain-sides. Because of their numerous 
green leaves appearing during the dry summer, live-stock frequently graze upon 
them. The plants being poisonous, great losses of cattle occur. Examination of 
the various species of Delphinium were made to determine the amount of alka- 
loids in the plant at various stages of its life-history. It was found that extracts 
of the leaves of D. Geyeri and D. Barheyi were more active than those of the 
stems and flowers, and that extracts from immature plants were three or four 
times more effective than extracts from mature plants. The poisonous sub- 
stances could be completely extracted with water. Three distinct amorphous 
alkaloids are present in the plant as well as one crystalline alkaloid. — A. B. 
Laurocerasus schipkaensis and Pyracantha pauciflora. By F. Morel {Rev. 
Hort. vol. xcii. pp. 80-81). — A hybrid of the Caucasian Cherry Laurel with L. 
schiphaensis is much hardier than the Caucasian variety. Plants raised from 
the seed of Pyracantha pauciflora rivalled P. coccinea Lalandi in splendour and 
can resist severe frosts which are fatal to the latter. — S. E. W. 
Lemons, Curing of {Agr. Gaz. N.S.W. vol, xxx. p, 639), — Lemons will keep 
for six months if they are vaselined and packed in paper cases. — S. E. W. 
