NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



281 



which look very well by daylight are failures under artificial light ; for 

 instance, flowers of a yellow shade look much paler under gas or electric 

 light. Bright shades of pink, crimson, or red always look well. Light 

 blue and mauve do not light up well, but flowers of a purple shade are very 

 effective. Generally, flowers that harmonise with each other give the 

 greatest satisfaction. — E. T. C. 



Tobacco Breeding". By A. D. Selby (U.S.A. Exp. Stn. Ohio, 

 BilU. 156, November 1901 ; 3 figs.). — Details concerning the crossing 

 and selection of the tobacco desired are given. The methods do not differ 

 from those usually employed. — F. J. C. 



Tobacco Diseases. By A. D. Selby {U.S.A. Exp. Stn. Ohio, Bull. 

 156, November 1904 ; 7 figs.).— The diseases dealt with are (1) mosaic 

 disease, characterised by a mottled appearance of the leaves followed by 

 distortion, and communicable to other plants by inoculation, but so far as 

 is known not caused by a parasitic organism (see, however, Journ. R.H.S. 

 xxviii. p. 301). (2) Root rot due to the fungus Thielavia basicola 

 Zopf. (3) "Bed rot" due to Rliizoctonia. (4) Wilting of seedlings 

 caused by Alternaria tenuis {?). (5) Wilt due to Fusariuiii sp. ((>) Leaf 

 blight caused by Cercospora nicotiance Ellis & Everh. and spots caused 

 by Macrosporium tahacinum and M. longipcs. (7) Mildew (Erysiphe 

 communis Lev. and Phytopliora nicotiana). The broom-rapes, Orohanclie 

 ramosa and 0. luduviana, also attack tobacco, and the troubles met with 

 in the curing-house are also touched upon. — F. J. G. 



Tree Culture of Violets. By Millet pere et fils (Le Jardin, vol. XX. 

 No. 458, p. 88 ; with 3 figs. ; March 20, 1906).— The article first enu- 

 merates the many varieties of violets now in cultivation, and then gives 

 simple directions for growing them as little flowering trees. The plants 

 must be potted and repotted year by year in September in a mixture of 

 sand, clay, and compost. In summer the pots should be buried in the 

 garden, and be disturbed as little as possible. After repotting in 

 September, the growth must on the contrary be encouraged and assisted. 

 According to the form of tree desired, the stolons may be developed 

 all round the plant, or a central shoot induced by nipping oft' all others 

 until the stem reaches the desired height, when it is allowed to branch 

 out. Extremes of heat as well as cold are to be avoided, a cold house 

 or orangery being the best habitat, and the plants will then live and 

 flower for ten years and more. — F. A. W. 



Tree Mig^nonette [Reseda odorata arhorea grandiflord). By Ad. 

 van den Heede {Le Jardin, vol. xx. No. 461, p. 132 ; May 5, 1906). — 

 Full directions are given for raising small standard trees of mignonette, 

 which will live from two to four years. This plant dees not prick out 

 well, so it is best to sow in thumb -pots, and weed out all but the strongest 

 seedling. Repot in July without breaking the ball. M. van den Heede's 

 father, who raised 1,000 to 2,000 plants each year, used to smear the pots 

 with liquid cow-dung before putting in the ball. The pots were then placed 

 in a cold frame and buried in cinders, with plenty of ventilation, and the 

 frame kept shaded. Drought and undue watering are both to be avoided. 



