NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



293 



Araliaceae. By R. Viguier (Ann. Sc. Nat. vol. ix. No. 6, pp. 305- 

 405 ; 13 figs.). — A description of the classification, geographical dis- 

 tribution, and morphology of Aralia, Acanthopanax, Schefflera, and 

 Dizygotheca. — S. E. W. 



Arctostaphylos nevadensis (Die Gart.,$. 326 ; July 10, 1909).— A 

 very hardy evergreen shrub of creeping habit with small ovate leaves, 

 urceolate pink flowers, and orange berries. It resembles Arctostaphylos 

 Uva-Ursi, a British plant, but is easily distinguished by the reddish bark, 

 light green leaves, pink flowers, and bright coloured fruit. — G. R. 



Arsenical Sprays, Danger of, to Fruit Trees. By E. D. Ball. 

 (Jour. Econ. Entom. ii. (1909), p. 142). — The author criticises the state- 

 ments made in a recently published bulletin of the Colorado Experiment 

 Station (No. 118), in which the death of large numbers of apple trees had 

 been attributed to the use of arsenical sprays. He considers the evidence 

 not convincing, and attributes the death of the trees to other and well- 

 known diseases, which occur in places where arsenical sprays are never 

 used. He corroborates the bulletin so far as to warn fruit-growers against 

 using even slightly alkaline water or water containing common salt in 

 solution in diluting arsenical washes, and suggests that heavy spraying 

 on alkaline soils may constitute an important source of danger. — F. J. C. 



Artemisia laetiflora (Die Gart., p. 230 ; May 15, 1909).— A fine 

 hardy perennial and perhaps the best of the genus. It grows from 5 to 6 

 feet in height, and has pinnate leaves and long panicles of small creamy 

 white flowers which have a faint fragrance. The time of flowering is 

 during August and September till the end of October. A very ornamental 

 plant for beds and borders as well as the wild garden, and very useful as 

 a cut flower. — G. B. 



Asparagus Beetles. By F. H. Chittenden (U.S.A. Dep. Agr., Bur. 

 of Entom. Circ. 102 ; May 1908 ; figs.). — Life histories of these well- 

 known European beetles (Crioceris asparagi and C. duodecimpunctata) 

 are detailed, the larvae of one living on the shoots, of the other, at least 

 for a time, in the berries. Spraying with a wash of 1 lb. arsenate of lead, 

 2^ lb. resin soap, and twenty-four gallons water gave excellent results. 

 The larvae of the former may be beaten off on a hot day and will perish 

 before they reach the plants again. — F. J. C. 



Aspidiotus destructor (Sig.) and its Chaleid Parasite in 



Tahiti. By R. W. Doane (Jour. Econ. Entom, i. (1908) 6. p. 341).— 

 This scale insect is extremely injurious to cocoanuts and other palms in 

 many parts of the tropics. The trees are often so badly infested that 

 they are rendered unfruitful ; all parts of the tree except the roots are 

 attacked. Recently, however, many of the trees in Tahiti have shown 

 signs of recovery and the author has ascertained that this is due to the 

 destruction of the scale insects by the chaleid parasite Aspidiotiphagus 

 citrinus Craw. On some trees from 50 per cent, to 70 per cent, of the 

 scale insects were found to be parasitized. The parasite was also found 

 on some of the neighbouring islands. — F. J. G. 



