NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



123 



evidence that gravity acts as a direct stimulus to the lateral placement 

 of the peg. " " The peg is to a considerable degree a natural integral 

 part of the plant ; it developes on all flanks of the hypocotyl approxi- 

 mately equally." The lateral placement is apparently brought about 

 by the arching of the hypocotyl. Two stimuli aid in the formation of 

 the arch, contact of. the coats and gravity. — G. F. S. E. 



Cypripedium speciosum {Bot. Mag. t. 8386). — Japan. Family, 

 Orchidaceae; tribe, Oypripedieae. Herb pubescent, 8-16 inches high. 

 Leaves, 3-4 inches long. Flowers, showy, pale flesh-coloured, veined 

 with rose, about 4 inches across. — G. H. 



Cynodon Ciliaris. J. H. Maiden (Agr. Gaz. N.S.W. vol. xxii. 

 pt. V. p. 408; 1 plate). — This grass is valuable for fodder. — S. E. W. 



Cycnoches Egrertonianum Batem. var. viride. By F. 



Ledien {Orchis, vol. v. pt. viii. pp. 116-9; 1 plate). — Cycnoches 

 Egertonianum has purple male flowers and pale green female flowers 

 on the same plant, but the female flowers open a fortnight before 

 the male. The illustration in Bateman's Orchids of Mexico and 

 -Guatemala" is incorrect; two male flowers of a different species of 

 Cycnoches are given instead of the female blooms. — S. E. W. 



Dahlia * Secretaire Ch. Sehepeus.' By Albert Dervaes {Rev. 



Hort. Beige, p. 7, Jan. 1, 1911 ; plate). — A new dahlia hybrid, between 

 a giant Dutch peony -flowered and a cactus dahlia, is said to have merit. 

 It makes a low-growing, vigorous plant, which requires no staking, and 

 the flowers are borne well above the leaves on long rigid stems. The 

 flowers are large, slightly incurved, of a brilliant red above and 

 pinkish-lilac streaked longitudinally with yellow beneath. — M. L. H. 



Demonstrations on State and County Farms. CP. Norgood 

 {U.S.A. Exp. Stn., Wisconsin, Bull. 208, p. 130; May 1911; 10 plates, 

 3 figs., 7 tabs.). — The aim of the experimenting station is "to present 

 to farmers simple and well-established principles and practices of 

 successful farming in operation in the demonstration-field." 



The author gives a short account of how, by means of visits to 

 the farm, organized picnics, and terse lectures, the methods of the 

 demonstration farms are brought to the notice of the farmers. No less 

 than thirteen lines of work are attempted on the farms. Some of the 

 most interesting are among the following : (1) Com tests — comparison 

 of varieties ; methods of curing and storing ; (2) seed selection ; (8) treat- 

 ment of grain for diseases ; smut, &c. ; (10) crop rotation and systems 

 of farming ; (13) weed eradication. Great stress is laid on the importance 

 of (1) and (2), and the authors prove conclusively that careful selection 

 and scientific drying and storage amply repay for any extra trouble and 

 expense incurred. The University authorities made germination and 

 growing tests of several samples of seed-corn supplied by farmers of 

 the county, and the results obtained must have been striking object- 

 lessons. 



