NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



759 



Agricultural Clubs, Boys' and Girls'. By F. W. Frome 

 (U.S.A. Dep. Agr., Farmers' Bull. 385, Feb. 1910).— This bulletin 

 concerns a movement which has made great growth of late years in 

 America. The clubs are associations of boys and girls during their 

 years at school, who enter into competitions with each other in various 

 country industries — the boys in growing corn, potatos, fruit, and garden 

 produce; the girls in bread-making, sewing, or, in joint contests with 

 the boys, in gardening or poultry-raising. 



In some cases the clubs have been started and fostered by local 

 school managers, in some by State Agricultural Colleges, Young Men's 

 Christian Associations, the U.S.A. Dep. Agr., local public bodies, or 

 by private enterprise. 



Helpful leaflets and publications on all the varieties of work under- 

 taken have been published for the use of the clubs by the State Depart- 

 ments, prizes are offered by county associations or by leading residents, 

 and the results of the movement are said to have been educationally 

 beneficial both to children and parents in many ways. — M. L. H. 



Aleyrodidae, A New Genus of. With Remarks on Aleyrodes 

 nubifera Berger, and A. citriEiley and Howard. By A. L. Quaintance 

 (U.S.A. Dep. Agr., Bur. Entom., Tech. ser. 12, pt. ix., Sep. 1, 1909; 

 2 figs.). — The new genus is described as Paraleyrodes, and has wing 

 venation of Aleyrodes and pupa-case of Aleurdicus type. — Y . G. J. 



Alkaline Soils, Experiments with Nitric Acid on. By E. S. 



Symmonds (Agr. Gaz. N.S.W. March 1910, pp. 257-266; 11 figs.).— 

 Soil irrigated by bore-water containing sodium carbonate for some years 

 becomes infertile. Sprinkling with nitric acid (600 lb. to the acre) 

 diluted with water restores the fertility. — S. E. W. 



Aloe spicata. By H. Strauss (Gartenflora, vol. hx. pt. xv. 

 pp. 316-317; 1 col. plate). — The only specimen of this Aloe in Europe, 

 flowered at Dahlem in February 1910. The long spike is covered with 

 orange-coloured blossoms. — S. E. W. 



Alstroemerias (Gartenflora, vol. lix. pt. xxii. p. 502). — Alstroe- 

 merias require good, well-drained soil in a half -sunny position. The 

 roots should be planted about 10 inches deep. The best worth growing 

 are A. versicolor, with red and yellow flowers; A. aurantiaca, orange 

 splashed with red; A. pulchella is only suitable for pot cultivation. 



S. E. W. 



Anchusa italica. By E. C. Pooley (Garden, Aug. 27, 1910, 

 p. 423). — The propagation of varieties such as * Dropmore ' and ' Opal ' 

 may be effected at the end of August by cutting the fleshy roots into 

 pieces like Seakale sets, and dibbling them into seed boxes filled with 

 soil so that a slight layer of soil covers the tops. They should then be 

 placed in a cool frame and remain there till a fair amount of growtli 

 has been made. — H. R. D. 



