NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



143 



greater concentrations of the salt than similar plants which were im- 

 mersed in soil extracts. 



Even so Iowa concentration as 700 parts in a million (of P 2 0 5 ) proved 

 injurious to those immersed, but when watered with a solution of 2,000 

 parts in a million the plants remained alive for three weeks. These 

 results were found with plants growing in sterile quartz sand ; but in 

 ordinary soil, and especially in manured soil, still higher concentrations 

 were tolerated. 



The absorption of phosphates in the soil varied (according to the 

 system used for detection) from 20-5 to 27*2 parts in a million in a solution 

 of 1,000 parts in a million, or in manured soil from 25'5 to 30'2 parts in a 

 million. With a solution of 2,000 the absorption varied from 26 to 32*6 

 parts in a million. The absorption is a negligible quantity in the case of 

 nitrate salts. — G. F. S.-E. 



Saxifraga scardiea {Bot. Mag. tab. 8243).— Nat. ord. Saxifraga- 

 ceae ; tribe Saxifrageae ; Balkan Peninsula. Herb, densely tufted ; leaves 

 J— § inch long ; stems 3-4^ inches long ; bearing clusters of white flowers. 



G.H. 



Sehizophragma hydrangeoides and Hydrangea petiolaris. 



By B>. Eimbault (Le Jardin, vol. xxii. No. 519, p. 292; October 5, 

 1908 ; 2 figs.). — Two hardy climbers recommended for walls or trellis. The 

 former is a native of Japan and throws out aerial roots which cling like Ivy. 

 The deciduous leaves develop in April, and are opposite and cordiform, 

 bright green above and white below. Flowers small and creamy-white, in 

 dense corymbs. Large oval folioles of the purest white are superposed 

 on the inflorescence, developing above the flowers, and form the chief 

 attraction of the plant. Flowers May-June. Best propagated by cuttings. 

 Hydrangea petiolaris differs in having no folioles, but a few flowers with 

 large white sepals project from the inflorescence, Hydrangea -fashion. 



F. A. W. 



Scillas. {Garden, January 1909, p. 17.) — The writer, continuing 

 a previous article, finds a depth of eight inches the deepest at which the 

 common bluebell can be planted with success. The spikes are finer, and 

 the yield of flowers and seeds greater when the bulbs are barely covered 

 with soil. He enumerates seven varieties of Scilla, and gives cultural 

 directions for each. — H. B. D. 



Seneeio latifolius, Alkaloids of. By H. E. Watt, D.Sc. (Jour. 



Chem. Soc. vol. xcv., March 1908, pp. 466-477). — A research undertaken at 

 the request of the Cape Government, who are investigating the alleged 

 poisoning of cattle by this plant. 



Two hitherto unknown alkaloids were isolated, for which the authors 

 propose the names Senecifoline and Senecifolidine respectively. The 

 former of these has been found to be poisonous to animals, but further 

 investigation is in progress. 



The injurious effects of other species of Seneeio are already known. 



W. A. V. 



