154 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTTCULTURAL ROCTRTY, 



For bulbous plants : 



34 kilos dried meat at 8 per cent, nitrogen. 

 34 dried blood at 8 per cent, nitrogen. 



28 superphosphate. 

 14 sulphate of potash. 



Use 10 kilos to the are of this at planting and 20 kilos during grow- 

 ing season in one or two applications. 



All these doses may be somewhat increased, but must not be 

 diminished.— M. L. H. , 



Maxillaria abbreviata Echb. f. By E. B. Behnick (Orchis, 

 vol. V. pt. vii. pp. 105-7; 1 plate). — Unlike most Maxillarias, M. ab- 

 breviata is a very attractive orchid. During January and February it 

 produces a large number of brilliant copper-coloured flowers. — S. E. W. 



Mesembryanthemum edule (i^e-y. Hort. de VAlgSrie, p. 15; Jan. 

 1911). — Information is desired on a Mesembryanthemum from the Cape 

 which furnishes a gummy substance used in the preparation of certain 

 woven materials. It is supposed that M. edule is the one in question. 

 It is commonly cultivated in Cape Colony, and bears a great quantity 

 of fruit at the end of summer, known locally as " Hottentots' figs. " 

 These contain a great quantity of mucilaginous matter. M. edule is 

 naturalized in different parts of the Algerian coast, and there is a 

 flourishing plantation of it at the Tipaza lighthouse. — M. L. H. 



Momordes revolutum (Bot. Mag. t. 8390).— Peru. Family, 

 Orchidaceae; tribe, Vandeae. Herb, epiphytic. Leaves, recurved, 

 3-12 inches long. Scapes, 4-7 inches long. Flowers, showy, cinnabar- 

 red with a yellow lip.— H. 



Mosquito Plant, The (Gard. Mag. No. 2999, p. 296, April 22, 1910). 

 Major H. D. Larymore described some years ago how when engaged 

 m Northern Nigeria the basil plant [Ocymum viride) had the property of 

 keeping away mosquitos. Men employed in the Victoria Gardens in 

 Bombay were pestered by them and by malarious fever until a boundary 

 hedge was planted of basil, when the plague of mosquitos abated and 

 the fever altogether disappeared. 



The same immunity from fever has been obtained by its use in 

 West Africa. It has now been shown that the leaves of the plant 

 possess a volatile oil containing 32 per cent, of thymol, which is a 

 recognized antiseptic and powerful germicide. — E. B. 



Mosquitos, Remedies and Preventives agrainst. By L. 0. 



Howard, Ph.D. {U.S.A. Dept. Agr., Farm. Bull. 444; April 1911).— 

 Spirits of camphor rubbed on the face and hands or a few drops on the 

 pillow at night will keep mosquitos away for a time. So also will 

 oil of pennyroyal. Oil of citronella is one of the best substances to 

 be used this way. A good mixture is: Oil of citronella, 1 ounce; 

 spirits of camphor, 1 ounce; oil of cedar, ^ ounce. 



