NOTES AND ABSTEACTS. 



117 



Chalk-hatingr Plants Hort. de I'Algerie, p. 171, May 1911). 



Certain plants which dishke chalk may suffer even when planted in 

 suitable soil by being watered with chalky-water when rain-water is 

 not procurable. To prevent this, make two solutions: — 



When required for use, mix the two solutions in equal parts and add 

 at the rate of 1 litre of the mixture to the cubic metre of water. This 

 will have the effect of rendering the carbonate of lime in the water 

 insoluble, and therefore harmless to the plants. — M. L. H. 



Chestnut Telephone and Telegraph Poles, Damage to, by 



Wood-boring" Insects. By Thomas E. Snyder, M.F. (U.S.A. Dep. 

 Agr., Bur. Entom., Bull. 94, pt. i. Dec. 1910; and Circ. 134, March 

 1911; illus.). — The author describes the telephone pole-borer (Parandra 

 hrunnea Fab.), which insect does the greatest amount of damage to 

 the poles, though the white ant is responsible for considerable injury. 



Treating the poles with various preservatives has proved to be 

 temporarily efficient in keeping out wood-borers if the work is tho- 

 roughly done, and not only the butt, but also the basal area is treated. 



Impregnating the poles with creosote is the most satisfactory 

 method, and will prevent attacks for at least five years. — V. G. J. 



Chrysanthemums in pots, Soil preparation. By P. Cragg 

 [Gard. Mag. No. 3032, p. 913, Dec. 9, 1911).— The subject of soil 

 preparation was dealt with at some length in a lecture before the 

 National Chrysanthemum Society. During a wet season it was found 

 that a large number of Chrysanthemums failed owing to overfeeding, 

 and this led to a number of experiments in the preparation of the soil 

 to be used for potting, so as to eliminate the risk of improper supplies 

 by the application of different crude manures as the plants grew. The 

 soil to be treated was carefully analysed with a view to ascertain the 

 percentage of phosphoric acid, potash, nitrogen, and hme, these being 

 looked upon as the four chief necessaries provided the soil itself was 

 of a good rich nature. The desirable amount of these was then fixed 

 upon, and to every 100 tons of earth as stacked were added the 

 necessary additional quantities of lime, basic slag, bone meal, ground 

 hoof, and soot. Of course different soils need different treatment, but 

 the idea is to raise the percentages of the different elements necessary 

 to plant-life until a well-balanced compost is obtained, and further 

 to have them present in such forms that a constant succession of com- 

 plete food is available. The treatment for forming a turf for future 

 use is also described with a view to building up its constituents for a 

 number of years ahead.— iJ. B. 



Chrysomphalus dietyospermi in Algeria. By L. Trabut 



[Rev. Hort. de VAlgerie, p. 57; March 1911).— The question of the 



A. — Oxalate of potash 



Water 



B. — Sulphate of iron 



Water 



300 gr. 

 1 litre 



300. gr. 

 1 litre 



