NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



399 



Linn. Soc. vol. xl. No. 276, pp. 247-74, Feb. 1912; with 17 text 

 figs.). — This account deals entirely with species (thirty-nine in num- 

 ber) of shrubby Veronicas which r^re natives of New Zealand. 

 Previous researches had shown thai certain anatomical features are 

 constant through whole genera or even orders of plants. Several 

 characters of this kind have been noticed in the species of Veronica 

 examined. Thus in all these shrubby species the lateral walls of the 

 epidermal cells are rectilinear or very slightly curved, not sinuous; 

 the only internal secretion is tannin, and tannin-sacs occur either singly 

 or in groups in the mesophyll of all the species examined; in nearly 

 all the species studied a patch of cork is developed at the point of 

 insertion of the leaf. This arrangement of corky cells at the leaf- 

 base stands in opposition to the view that translocation of carbohydrates 

 is carried on in the cortical region of the petiole. Here, the cortex 

 being completely cut off by these cells, translocation can only go on 

 in the vascular bundle. In Veronica this cork layer is found a year 

 or more before the leaf-fall. It is a precocious preparation for the 

 leaf-fall which ultimately takes place by the formation of an absciss 

 layer just above the cork-cells. 



These Veronicas occur in the drier climate of the eastern part of 

 South Island, and are almost entirely absent from the moist, warm 

 regions of the western parts of New Zealand. In relation to this 

 distribution these species of Veronica all show a more or less pro- 

 nounced xerophilous structure. The xerophily is arrived at in various 

 ways, the most obvious being reduction of leaf surface, and of the 

 intercellular space system, and the cuticularization of the epidermis. 

 Special adaptions to a dry habitat are described for several species, 

 such as the overarching of the thickened cuticle above the stomatal 

 pores (7. Hectori, V. Traversii) or the development of water-tissue 

 {e.g., V. Lewisii). — R. B. 



Vines in Australia. By M. Blunno {Agr. Gaz, N.S.W. vol. 

 xxii. pt. xii. pp. 1087-1093). — In a hot climate vines produce good 

 crops; the grapes are sweet, yielding wines such as sherry, port, 

 Madeira, or Muscat. In the temperate zone the vines require more 

 manure. The grapes yield lighter wines — viz., Bordeaux, Burgundy, 



; Champagne, hock, or Moselle. In cold climates the grapes are deficient 



j in sugar and contain too much acid. — S. E. W. 



\ Vines in Australia. By M. Blunno {Agr. Gaz. N.S.W. vol. 

 1 xxiii. pt. i. pp. 57-64). — Vines planted in fine sandy soil are immune 

 j to Phylloxera. The alcoholic strength of the wine depends chiefly on 

 I climate; the nearer the equator the richer the grape juice will be in 

 I sugar and the wine in alcohol. Light soils are preferred for the 

 j production of clarets and fine white wines. In cold districts a heavy 

 {ground rich in limestone should be used for this purpose. — S. E. W. 



Wilting" Coefficient for Different Plants and its Indirect 



fDetermination. By Lyman J. Briggs and H. L. Shantz {U.S.A. Dep. 



