NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



369 



Formosa, Flora of. By H. J. Elwes (Gard. Chron. p. 25; 

 July 13, 1912). — A short account of two months' botanizing in the 

 island, mentioning some of the more striking plants met with. 



E. A. B. 



Fruit Flies in New South Wales, Part III. By W. E. Gurney 

 {Agr. Gaz. N.S.W. vol. xxiii., pt. i., pp. 75-80; 2 plates; 9 figs.). — 

 The Island fruit fly {Trypeta miLsae) and the Ferment fly (Drosophila 

 ohscura and D. melanog aster) lay their eggs on damaged fruit. Their 

 maggots may be distinguished from the dreaded Mediterranean [Cera- 

 tiiis capitata) and Queensland fruit fly {Dacus Tryoni), and also from 

 the Tomato fly {Lonchaea splendida) by means of the accompanying 

 diagrams. The grubs of the fruit beetles (Carpophilus pilipennis and 

 C. aterrimus) prey on damaged fruit. — S. E. W. 



Fruit Trees, Protecting" from Hares. By W. E. Henderson 

 {Agr. Gaz. N.S.W. vol. xxii., pt. xi., p. 1003). — Hares do not attack 

 trees if the stems are wrapped in paper. — S. E. W. 



Fustic Wood, its Substitutes and Adulterants. By George 



B. Sudworth and Clayton D. Mell (U.S.A. Dep. Agr., Forest Service, 

 Circ. 184; June 9, 1911). — Probably no other timber has more sub- 

 stitutes than the Fustic wood (Chlorophora tinctoria). It yields the 

 valuable yellow, green, and brown dyestuffs, and attains to a height 

 of about 25 to 50 feet, with a stem diameter of 2 feet. Fustic wood 

 is imported as chips or sticks 2 to 4 feet long, about 2,466 tons having 

 been entered at United States ports for consumption in 1909. — A. D. W. 



Gaultheria Veitchiana, sp. nov. By W. G. Oraib (Gard. Chron. 

 p. 188; Sept. 7). — A new species from Western China collected by 

 E. H. Wilson, and closely allied to G. HooTceri. — E. A. B. 



Gerbera, Seeding" of. By E. Irwin Lynch {Gard. Chron. p. 107 ; 

 August 10, 1912). — A useful note pointing out that Gerberas are self- 

 sterile and protogynous, that pollen should be applied from older 

 llowers to the stigmas of those flower-heads but lately opened, and 

 concluding with instruction for sowing seeds, and the best method 

 of growing seedlings. — E. A. B. 



i Germination and Oxygen Minimum. By Charles Albert Shull 

 {Bot. Gaz. pp. 453-477, Dec. 1911; 1 fig.).— The author gives an 

 j introductory account of previous researches which may be of some 

 ! interest to horticulturists. The seeds of rice and various water plants, 

 j of sunflower and other plants are said, by various authorities, to 

 j germinate in the absence of free oxygen. Other seeds require free 

 j c>xygen for germination. Others, again, found that a much higher 

 percentage of weed seeds germinated after having been frozen and 

 I thawed during the winter. 



The author believes that the extremes of winter climate often 

 destroy the seed-coat sufliciently to admit the necessary oxygen. Tlius^ 



