NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



165 



disappear later on in the day, and subsequently wholly at the matura- 

 tion of the fronds. In P. alcicorne and P. hiforme these exudations 

 occur to a lesser extent. Notes on the structure of the nectaries are 

 given. Similar 'tissues are only known amongst ferns in four other 

 genera;. — A. D. G. 



Podocappineae. By M. S. Young {Bot. Gaz. pp. 81-100, Aug. 

 1910; 3 plates). — Discusses the morphology of the Podocarpineae, and 

 from a discussion of the embryological and anatomical evidence con- 

 cludes that both this group and Araucarineae are very primitive and 

 that they are probably related. Perhaps neither group has advanced 

 far from the original ancestral conifer stock. — G. F. S. E. 



Potato Blackleg", A Bacterial Disease of the Irish. By W. J. 



Morse {U.S.A. Exp. Stn., Maine, Bull. 174; Dec. 1909).— The 

 symptoms of this disease, which is supposed to have been introduced 

 in the States from England vid Canada, are that attacked plants are 

 unthrifty, light green, or even yellow, and undersized; the branches 

 and leaves tend to form a rather compact top, and the young leaves 

 often curl and fold up along the midrib. The most characteristic 

 symptom is the inky-black discoloration of the stem, at or near the 

 soil-surface, and frequently running some distance up the stem. The 

 bacterium (probably Bacillus solanisaprus) produces soft-rot in the 

 young tubers, and is apparently generally distributed in wounds, 

 cracks, and decayed areas of seed-tubers. The bacillus is easily killed 

 by drying, and is therefore not likely to be distributed on sound, smooth 

 seed-stock. It is recommended that diseased, rough, and wounded 

 tubers should be rejected, that sound ones should be dipped in 

 formaldehyde or corrosive sublimate solutions before planting, and that 

 rotation of crops should be practised. — F. J. C. 



Potato Blig-ht. By E. D. Butler (Agr. Gaz. N.S.W. vol. xxii. 

 pt. V. pp. 409-12). — To prevent potato blight, the plants must be 

 sprayed when the tops are about 6 inches high, with Bordeaux mixture. 

 It is useless to spray after the potato is attacked by blight. — S. E. W. 



Potato Blig-ht, Irish. By S. E. Musgrave {Agr. Gaz. N.S.W. 

 vol. xxii. pt. vi. pp. 519-21). — In districts where Irish Blight is preva- 

 lent, it is desirable to let the land lie fallow for two years and import 

 new seed potatos. — S. E. W. 



Potato-g-rowing" for Minnesota. By A. E. Kohler {U.S.A. 

 Exp. Stn. Minnesota, llth Ann. Bept. 1909 ; p. 334). — Gives an account 

 of the cultivation of the potato under the conditions obtaining in Minne- 

 sota.— jP. J. C. 



Potatos, Leaf Curl Disease of. By H. F. {Gartenflom, vol. Ix. 



pt. xvi. pp. 363-5). — Leaf-curl disease is checked by growing the potato 

 in a very poor, sandy soil for one season. If grown in rotation with 

 beet, on a clay soil or on an ordinary potato soil, the addition of chalk 



