NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



771 



Cherries, Bush More Convenient than Standards. By 



L. Chasset (Pom. Frang. June 1910, pp. 162-165). — These are recom^ 

 mended for commercial plantations as being much more convenient for 

 all purposes. — C. H. H. 



Cherries, Studies on the Gummosis of. By Griiss and Sorauer 



{Not. Konig. Bot. Berlin, No. 47, vol. v. Nov. 1910, pp. 188-197).— 

 Previous writers have usually considered gummosis of cherries, plums, 

 &c. {i.e. a disease in which abnormal quantities of gum are produced 

 by the plant) to be due to the influence of wounds upon the tree. 



Griiss and Sorauer find, however, that the phenomenon may take 

 place in the absence of any wounds, and they consider that it is due 

 to the derangement of a normal physiological process. This disturb- 

 ance may be induced by wounding the plant, but it may also originate 

 from a number of other causes. The gum is produced by the trans- 

 formation of hemicelluloses contained in the membranes of certain 

 cells, and also of reserve materials lying in the protoplasm itself. 

 Under normal conditions these substances are acted upon by two sets 

 of enzymes — hydrolyzing and coagulating ferments respectively—but 

 under certain abnormal conditions the balance between the two sets of 

 enzymes is upset, and the hydrolyzing ferments get the upper hand. 

 In consequence of this abnormal quantities of gum make their 

 appearance in the tissues of the plant. — R. B. 



Chestnut. By F. de Gastella {Jour. Agr. Vict. October 1910, 

 pp. 656-664). — Soil with but little lime is best for the chestnut. With 

 over 4 per cent, carbonate of lime the chestnut will not thrive ; it is 

 grafted with good varieties, and grows to a height of 50 feet. Over a 

 ton of chestnuts may be obtained from an acre of trees (in this case 

 receiving some slight cultivation), worth about £5 after deducting about 

 35s. for cost of gathering. This is a higher yield than the ordinary 

 run of plantations of poorer sorts, the average yield of which would 

 amount to about one-third of the above estimate. The chestnut is 

 valuable as a food-tree as well as for timber and shelter. — C. H. H. 



Chlorosis or Jaundice. By G. Eiviere and G, Bailhache {Jour. 

 Soc. Nat. Hort. Fr. ser. iv. vol. xi. p. 137; Feb. 1910).— This disease 

 is said to be the result of attempting to grow pear trees, especially 'those 

 grafted on quince, in a soil containing too large a proportion of chalk.. 

 Analyses and tables are given which point to the fact that pears, grafted 

 as above, are not to be successfully grown in soils containing more than 

 40 grammes of chalk per kilogramme. — M. L. H. 



Chrysanthemums : Certificate of Merit (i^ei;. Hort., ¥eh. 16, 

 1910, p. 75).— The Society Nationale d 'Horticulture issues two degrees 

 of award, the superior of which can only be given on the third year of 

 exhibition — an idea worthy of consideration here in connexion with, 

 these and other flowers. — 0. T. D. 



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