NOTES AND ABSTKACTS. 



251 



NOTES AND ABSTEACTS. 



Aeration of Soil and Germination. By G. F. Stone {U.S.A. Exp. 

 Stn. Mass., 18th Ann. Bep. 1906, pp. 124-125).— Two lots of lettuce- 

 seeds in boxes have a funnel 4 ^ in. in diameter, leading below the soil to 

 a depth of 1^ in. One funnel was daily attached to an air blower for six 

 hours. Each box contained 1,500 seeds, and in the aerated box 1,210 

 plants were obtained, having a total weight at the end of a month of 

 152 grammes and an average weight of -1239 gramme ; while in the 

 other box, which was treated in the usual way, 977 plants were obtained, 

 having a total weight of 83 grammes and averaging -0847 gramme, thus 

 showing the benefit derived from a constant supply of oxygen during and 

 after germination. — F. J. C. 



Anemone Japonica Crispa {Lc Jardm, vol. xx. No. 458, p. 93 ; 



March 20, 1906). — A charming variety of the common Japanese anemone, 

 with parsley-like foliage and large pink flowers, often semi-double. 



F. A. W. 



Annual Flowers. By W. Irving (Gardejt, No. 1787, p. 97, Feb- 

 ruary 17, 1906 ; and No. 1788, p. 118, February 24, 1906).— Among annual 

 plants which can be grown from seeds each year the great diversity of form 

 and colour is such that they play a most important part in the decoration 

 of the garden, either in the form of masses in the flower-border, or in 

 broken ground between shrubs that are planted widely apart. Many of 

 them are easily grown and require little attention after the early stages of 

 their existence, and these are amongst the more showy kinds. The effect 

 produced by a broad stretch of such things as the Opium or Caucasian 

 Poppies, Eschscholtzias, or Godetias in full flower is a most striking one, 

 and when seen is a sight that is not soon forgotten. To produce the 

 best effects many annuals require to be sown in the late autumn, when 

 they form small plants before winter, and in the following spring are 

 ready to push forth their flowers directly the weather is favourable. By 

 sowing both in autumn and in the following spring it is possible to have 

 a succession of many of the individual kinds throughout the whole season. 

 The chief conditions required by annuals are fairly rich, well-worked soil, 

 and ample space. Many annuals are sown far too thickly, and are not 

 thinned out sufficiently, the result being thin, weedy-looking plants, and 

 flowers inferior in size. — E. T. C. 



Apple Trees, Blig-ht Canker of. By H. H. Whetzel {U.S.A. Exp. 

 Stn. Cornell, Bull. 236 ; Feb. 1906 ; 35 figs.).— A number of fungi have 

 been recorded as causing various kinds of cankers on fruit trees, and the 

 particular one under discussion is characterised by sunken and smooth 

 areas o-f a brown colour being produced on the bark, particularly of the 

 stems and branches of young trees just coming into bearing. No fungus 



