NOTES AND ABSTKACTS. 



519 



much in a climate where the rainfall was heavier, thrifty orchards being 

 found even in sod near the Atlantic seaboard, where the rainfall is 

 comparatively high. 



The Woburn Farm Reports on the "malignant action" of grass are 

 discussed with an open mind, but the conditions of that farm, with its 

 comparatively recently-planted trees, are so different from those of the 

 orchard under discussion that this report is well worth the study of 

 orchardists in this country. — A. P. 



Apples and Pears, Best Varieties for Export Growing 1 in 

 Victoria. By James Lang {Jour. Dep. Agr. Vict. ; February 1909). — 

 Apples : ' Cox's Orange Pippin,' ' Cleopatra,' ' King of the Pippins,' 

 'Dumelow's Seedling,' ' Munroe's Favourite,' and ' Gravenstein.' 

 Pears: ' Winter Nelis,' 'Josephine de Marines,' 'Beurre Clairgeau,' 

 'Glou Morceau,' 'Vicar of Winkfield,' and 'Forelle'; 'Winter Nelis,' 

 being the best.— G. II. H. 



Apples: a New Form of Sphaeropsis. By Lena Belle Walker 

 (U.S.A. Exp. Stn., Nebraska, 1908; with 10 figs.).— Two forms of 

 Sphaeropsis are capable of producing black rot in apple, differing chiefly 

 in the dimensions of the spore — (1) Sphaeropsis malorum Peck, and 

 (2) the new Sphaeropsis, with larger spores, but still without a specific 

 name. The latter seems to be the more common and the more vigorous 

 grower. — M. C. G. 



Arbutus Menziesii. By S. A. Skan (Bot. Mag. tab. 8249).— Nat. ord. 

 Ericaceae ; tribe Arbuteae. Western North America. Tree, usually 20-50 

 feet high, 1-4 feet diam. ; leaves oblong, 2|-5 inches long, 1^-3 inches 

 wide ; flowers in panicles, 5-6 inches across ; corolla | inch long, 

 urceolate, white ; fruit drupe-like, bright orange, ^-^ inch long. — G. H. 



Arsenic : its Use in Horticulture. By J. Butherford Hill (Trans. 

 Bot. Soc. Edin., vol. iv. 1908, pp. 343-345). — A report of value to those who- 

 use arsenic in any form. Cases are reported where fowls were found dead, 

 and the cause was traced to the use of an arsenical weed-killer fully six 

 months previously. The weeds were apparently killed at the time, but a 

 strong growth had again appeared in six months, notwithstanding that 

 arsenic was demonstrated to exist still in the soil in considerable amount, 

 and gravel picked up by fowls contained a fatal dose. It is suggested 

 that, as iron was present in the soil, the arsenic may have formed an 

 insoluble compound with it. An important point is that arsenic in the 

 soil has apparently no effect upon the growth of weeds, and it is stated 

 that any alkaline carbonate, such as common salt or washing soda, will 

 kill weeds equally well without the added arsenic. — E. A. Bel. 



Arsenical Poisoning: of Fruit Trees. By W. P. Headden (Jour. 

 Econ. Entom. ii. (1909), 3, p. 239.) — The author replies to the criticisms 

 of Dr. Ball upon his paper, (see Jour. B.H.S. xxxv. 293.)— F. J. C. 



Asparagus (Garden, May 8, 1909, p. 221, Anon).— The writer 

 advises forcing in permanent beds surrounded by brickwork, the necessary 

 heat being obtained from linings of leaves and manure. — H. B. D. 



