486 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



known as the Euonymus scale. The injuries occasioned by the attacks 

 of this pest almost preclude the growing of these beautiful plants for 

 hedges and borders. 



The author gives an account of the history and habits of the pest, 

 and recommends spraying with kerosene emulsion. — V. G.J. 



Farmers' Institutes in America. By W. H. Beal and John 

 Hamilton {U.S.A. Dept. Agr. Off. Exp. Stns. Bull. 213; 1909).— 

 Those who are interested in agriculture or in education (or in both) 

 should consult this pamphlet, which gives a good sketch of the enor- 

 mous amount of work carried on by such institutions in America. 

 There is nothing in this country which corresponds exactly with these 

 farmers' institutes. They are undoubtedly of great use in the United 

 States.— G. F. S.-E. 



Fern Hybrids. By W. D. Hoyt {Bot. Gaz. vol. xlix. pp. 340-370; 

 with 12 figs. ; May 1910). — The author endeavoured to obtain hybrids 

 by using several different species, but was unsuccessful. The sperms 

 always entered the archegonia in every species. When they were of 

 the same species thirty-seven fusions occurred in ninety-seven cases, 

 but when of different species not one fusion occurred, although 

 129 archegonia were entered. 



There is a long description in this paper of the movements of 

 sperms, which were found to be complex and varied. They are directed 

 by a series of gradual swingings of their anterior ends, accompanied 

 by a rotation on their axes. They do not suddenly turn towards or 

 away from the stimulant. The stimulant affects the organism as a 

 whole, and does not act on local parts of it. The reactions of fern 

 sperms seem to be of the same kind as those described for protozoa. 



G. F. S.-E. 



Fern Prothallia. By L. Pace (Bet. Gaz. vol. 1. pp. 49-58; with 



11 figs. ; July 1910). — Describes some peculiar prothallia kept for three 

 years in the laboratory. About 300 archegonia have been found on one 

 of them. Apogamy occurred. — G. F. S.-E. 



Field Experiments, Essentials of Successful. By 0. E. 



Thome {U.S.A. Exp. Stn. Ohm, Giro. 96; With illustrations; 1909).— 

 The Director of this station gives some very necessary information as 

 to the many essential points which have to be kept in view for suc- 

 cessful field experiments. — G. F. S.-E. 



Fodder Grasses, South-West African. By E. Pilger {Nat. 

 Konig. Bot. Berlin, No. 46, pp. 133-155, February 1910; with 



12 figs.). — In this paper the principal grasses of South-West Africa 

 are described. Their morphological characters are given, and the dis- 

 tribution of each species and its significance as a fodder plant for 

 cattle, sheep, etc., is referred to. Good "text-figures, showing the 

 characters of the most important species of these grasses, accompany 

 the descriptions. — B. B. 



