NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



319 



pears of diffuse branching habit, such as Epargne, Cuiv, Beurre d'Amanlis, 

 B. magnifique, Sec. ; in such cases the espalier would be better. It should 

 also be abandoned in the case of all varieties producing large fruits. It 

 is impossible to obtain perfect shapes in those varieties which, after being 

 planted, produce only two or three shoots at the top. Again, as the 

 pyramid-shape is a bulky one, it cannot be adopted for trees planted in 

 small gardens. Also the form of the tree to be adopted depends very 

 largely on the kind of soil in which the tree is grown ; different soils will 

 give different results. The climate is another factor for consideration : in 

 damp and badly ventilated places, old and delicate varieties like Beurre 

 d'Hardenpont, Roy ale d'hiver and Bon Chretien d'hiver have a tendency 

 to rot ; from such situations thick, bushy forms should be excluded. The 

 economical question is one of great importance, especially in connection 

 with the space available for growing larger or smaller forms of tree. 



The spindle-form is one which has the advantage of fruiting more 

 rapidly than the pyramidal ; for this purpose varieties must be chosen 

 which tend to form their branches in the direction of the axis of the 

 stem. Such are : Nec plus Meuris, Beurre d'Hardenpont, La France, 

 Doyenne du Cornice, Charles Cognee, Passe Crassane, &e. 



As a rule apples are the best adapted to the spindle-shape, because 

 they tend to grow straight and robust, bear well-fastened fruit, and their 

 grafts are firm and sound. 



More than 200 years ago fruit-growers adopted the espalier, of which 

 the fan-shaped type seems to have been the first. The various varieties 

 are adapted to different conditions and positions. 



The author maintains that oblique cordons are always to be preferred 

 if one desires to obtain the finest apples and pears, and one can obtain 

 just what one likes from them ; if the growth is seen to be luxuriant 

 the branches are trained horizontally, if the opposite is the case they are 

 trained vertically. The peach is cited as the tree which gives the best 

 results under the espalier form, especially as it is sensitive to cold nights. 

 But it may also be grown with good results as an isolated tree under the 

 form of a low spindle. In conclusion it is stated that the simplest form 

 of tree should be adopted in the case of the production of valuable fruit. 



17. C. W. 



Fungi, Recent Researches on the Parasitism of. By H. Marshall 

 Ward (Ann. Bot. xix. Jan. 1905, pp. 1-50). — A general historical survey 

 is first given of the progress of mycology during the past century, after 

 which the author limits himself to the discussion of recent researches on 

 the Uredineae. 



The salient features of modern work are considered under the following 

 headings : germination of uredospores, specialised parasitism, immunity, 

 susceptibility, mycoplasm and infection. 



Some new points of interest are brought forward in connection with 

 the author's most recent work on Pucciiiia glumarum. He finds that in 

 " immune " forms of wheat the uredospores germinate and send out tubes 

 into the stomata in the usual way, but the hypha? soon exhibit a starved 

 appearance, and undergo death- changes about the sixth day. The 

 conclusion arrived at is : the fungus attacks the host-cells with such 



