NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



113 



Escallonias. By J. Clark (Gard. Chron., No. 1146, p. 408, Decem- 

 ber 12, 1908). — This paper consists of an annotated list of the best species 

 of this genus, and the author says " some of them are unfortunately too 

 tender to be generally recommended, but full exposure to the sun and a 

 poor, fairly dry soil will enable some of them to withstand much more 

 severe weather than they otherwise would." — G. S. S. 



Evolution— Descent of Angiosperms. By Hans Hallier (Beih. Bot. 

 Centralbl.xxm. 2 te Abth. Heft 2, pp. 81-265).— Herr Hallier, in the course of 

 a very exhaustive inquiry into the affinities of Juliania, gives evidences for 

 his belief that the Angiosperms are descended from now extinct Magnoliaceae 

 which had hermaphrodite, acyclic and apocarpous flowers with a perianth 

 and branched stamens. These sprang from Gymnosperms which re- 

 sembled Cycas, Anomozamites and Gycadcoidea in appearance. 



He supposes the lines of descent to be somewhat as follows : Julianales 

 (also Juglandales, Anacardiaceae &c.) from Terebinthaceae, Rutaceae, 

 Saxifragaceae, Hamamelidaceae, Illicieae, Magnoliaceae. 



The paper is of great importance in connection with the vexed question 

 of the descent of Angiosperms. — G. F. S.-E. 



Evolution, Methods and Causes of. By 0. F. Cook (U.S. Dep. 

 Agr., Bur. Plant Industry, Bull. 136, pp. 31, October 31, 1908.— 

 This paper expresses, in a somewhat dogmatic form, the author's views 

 upon the theory of evolution. He lays stress upon the fact that selection 

 does not make new characters. On this point Dr. Alexander Graham 

 Bell (cited in the introduction) also points out that " though natural 

 selection may cause the death of the unfit, it cannot produce the fit — 

 far less evolve the fittest. ... A closed gate may block a road, but it 

 does not push the traveler (sic) into a new path." 



In one place the author says " transfers of cotton and other plants to 

 new conditions are often followed by striking changes of characters far 

 beyond the range of ordinary environmental accommodations." On the 

 next page : "It has not been shown that the environment has any active 

 constructive influence in descent either in individual organisms or in 

 species at large." 



He seems to ascribe the greatest significance in evolution to the 

 " normal diversity of natural broad-bred species." He does not explain 

 how the original species became diverse. But the precise position 

 adopted by the author is elaborated in the paper itself. — G. F. S.-E. 



Fairy Ring's on Lawns. (Garden, January 1909, p. 13.)— For the 

 destruction of these rings, Bordeaux Mixture or sulphate of iron, using 

 8 lb. to the gallon, is recommended. — H. R. D. 



Flora Of Turkestan. (Beih. Bot. Centralbl. xxiii. 2 U> Abth. Heft 3, 

 pp. 341-386). — Fedtschenko's Conspectus is continued in this paper, which 

 is concerned only with Astragalus (27 species). — G. F. S.-E. 



Fodder-hairs, Wax and Honey. By Dr. Josef Fahringer (Beih. 

 Bot. Centralbl. xxiii. l t8 Abth. Heft 3, pp. 191-203 ; one plate). 



Dr. Fahringer in a criticism of Porsch's account of the Flowerwax 

 and " Fodder-hairs " of certain orchids gives an interesting review of the 



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