NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



3:>7 



account is given of the conditions in which horticulture is carried on at 

 Kimberley, S. Africa, and of the huge pergola-like structure, a mile in 

 length, covered with grape-vines, which bear on an average 40 tons of 

 grapes per annum. — G. S. S. 



Lachenalia Hybrids. By F. W. Moore (Gard. Chron. No. 951, 

 p. 210, figs. 91, 92, and 93, Apl. 8, 1905). — An interesting account of the 

 history of these plants is given in this paper, and of the author's efforts in 

 their production. — G. S. S. 



Lachenalia liliiflora. Anon. (Gard. Chron. No. 980, p. 259, fig. 

 97; Oct. 7, 1905). — This pretty white lachenalia was described many 

 years ago by Jacquin, but it has not been known to flower in England 

 until this year, when it blossomed with Mr. Jas. O'Brien at Harrow-on- 

 the-Hill. It differs considerably in the form of the flowers from the 

 other cultivated species, which have much more tubular flowers. It is a 

 native of S. Africa, and blossoms freely in a cold greenhouse. — G. S. S. 



Lathrsea squamaria. By 0. Jacobs (Die Gart. No. 82, p. 878, 

 May 6, 1905). — A very interesting as well as pretty parasitic species, 

 closely allied to the genus Orobanche. It will thrive in a moist position 

 near alder trees or hazel-nut bushes. The racemose flowers are flesh- 

 coloured or pink. — G. B. 



Laurel, The. By C. Sprenger {Bull B. Soc. Tosc. Ort. 1, p. 26, 

 Jan. 1905). — In habit it is not a tree, but can be made one by suppressing 

 all the suckers springing up at its base. Its berries are used for veterinary 

 purposes. The dried leaves are used in cooking and for packing fruit. 

 They are sent in fresh condition from Italy to Germany, where they are 

 used for religious and artistic ornaments. The plant ought to be more 

 widely used for beautifying landscape, for drying up damp spots, and for 

 adorning the banks of rivers, brooks, and ponds. The Greeks and 

 Romans possessed great advantages in the utilisation of the laurel in this 

 way. 



It is cultivated in pots or tubs of various sizes, especially in Holland 

 and Belgium, but also in France and Germany, where it is seen in theatres, 

 restaurants, cafes, as villa ornaments, and flanking the roadways. 



It is grown either as a tall, tapering shrub, or in regular pyramidal 

 form, and for the decoration of verandahs, terraces and stairways nothing 

 is more excellently adapted or more attractive to the eye. It is found in 

 every good garden at Ghent, Brussels, Bruges, and many other towns. 

 The writer has seen proprietors of big establishments and famous growers 

 making a hobby and pastime of the training up of this plant. 



The laurel is raised preferably from seed, as in that way it has less 

 tendency to form suckers, although these latter are used for obtaining 

 varieties with very large leaves ; and further, the plants are not constant 

 from seed. They are annually transferred from pot to pot as they grow 

 older, until finally they are ready for sale in tubs. The bare stem has 

 a length of 1-2 metres (3 feet 3 inches to 6 feet 6 inches), ending in a very 

 dense crown, perfect in shape and of a dark green colour. The p^amid- 



