144 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCJETY. 



closed are due to the transmission of the germ from diseased areas 

 by aphides. From our observations we have concluded that practically 

 all the fresh nursery infection, all the water-sprout infection, all the 

 sucker infection, all the twig infection other than that due to blossom 

 inoculation, on the apple trees was due this season to inoculation by 

 the aphis, and we infer from this that probably it is usually so. This 

 season the aphis was very plentiful, and the blight was proportionally 

 so. Possibly the periodic bad outbreaks of blight in the apple are 

 coincident with a plague of aphides such as occurred this year." 



A. A. K. 



Galanthus Elwesii poculiformis. A new variety. By E. 



Farrer {Gard. Chron. p. 33 ; Jan. 20, 1912). — A robust variety in which 

 the inner segments are two-thirds of the length of the outer, and purely 

 white externally, and without the apical sinus; internally marked with 

 six short green lines at the base. — E. A. B. 



Gardeners, Injuries to, from Plants. By H. de Varigny 

 {Rev. Hort. Beige, p. 95, March 15, 1911 ; and p. 123, April 15, 

 1911). — These two articles collect the evidence against certain trees 

 and shrubs as capable of causing more or less severe injury either by 

 direct poisoning or by inflicting poisoned wounds. The first article 

 deals with cases of local poisoning due to wounds from rose and black- 

 thorn, and gives several theories to account for such poisoning. Rose- 

 pricks have been shown to be more harmful in wet years, when mildew 

 is most prevalent on the trees, and some growers assert that most cases 

 of poisoning occur when the men have been at work on trees infested 

 w^ith mildew. Several cases have been investigated in which a fungus 

 was found to be present in the eruption caused by rose- wounds, so 

 that it is probable that the evil effects of the pricks are due to inocula- 

 tion with a fungus. Two other theories on the subject are, first, 

 that it is the manure-water with which the roses are watered which j 

 does the mischief; and secondly, that the blackthorn has been rendered I 

 septic by its thorns having been used as a larder for the putrefying 

 stores of the shrike. 



In general, all spinous plants may be charged with septic matter, 

 and may set up local infection. Even more serious results are traced 

 to the action of other plants. The common nettle is said to have been j 

 the death of dogs in many cases by affecting their throats while the 1 

 animals were licking their stung limbs and so causing congestion and 

 asphyxia. The toxic qualities of several Primulas are well known and 

 some fatal cases are here cited. 



Rhus Toxicodendron is hardly cultivated at all abroad on account | 

 of its dangerous character; many plants possess an irritating juice, 

 such as some species of Eucalyptus, Solanum, Hellebore, Clematis, &c. 

 The wild form of the last is sometimes used by tramps to produce or 

 kjeep up ulcerations. Even asparagus, hops, and the down of peaches 

 sometimes produce irritation, and the daffodil pickers of the Scilly . 



