NOTES AND ABSTKACTS. 



649 



Lavender Cultivation. By J. Knight {Jour. Dept. Agr., Victoria, 

 X. p. 316; May 1912). — An account of the cultivation of the lavender 

 on a commercial scale.— i''. J. G. 



Layering". By A. van den Heede (Rev. Hort. Beige, p. 312, 

 Oct. 1, 1911; p. 329, Oct. 15, 1911; p. 345, Nov. 1, 1911; figs.).— A 

 series of articles on every possible form of layering, with care'ful 

 diagrams and illustrations and exact descriptions of how each different 

 operation is to be performed. — M. L. H. 



Legruminosae, Shape of Flower. By Otto Schiiepp (Beih. 

 Bot. Cent. Bd. 28, pp. 195-246; 11 plates and 9 figs.).— The author 

 shows that many of the peculiarities in the flowers of Lathyrus and 

 Vicia can be explained (at least in part) by the different rates of growth 

 of calyx, corolla, stamens, and style, and by the interferences which 

 limit the growth of the whorls owing to the struggle for space within 

 the bud. 



It is impossible to give in brief his results (though they are of 

 great interest), because they deal with minute details which can only 

 be adequately illustrated by figures. 



Amongst the most important factors in the shaping of the flowers 

 of Vicia Lathyrus are the following : 



The petals grow more rapidly than the other parts in the early 

 stages of development, but are hindered at first by the calyx and then 

 (so far as regards keel and wings) by the resistance of the 

 androecium, which, being a compact cylinder, interferes with the 

 unfolding of the petals. 



The growth of the lower median line of the carina is quicker than 

 that of the midribs of the wings, and the lowest part of the style also 

 grows more rapidly than its upper part. This, and the manner in 

 which these parts are hindered by the standard, leads to the upward 

 curvature of keel, wings, and style. 



• This resistance of the standard produces tensions in the claws of 

 the other petals, and induces the formation of grooves and ridges on the 

 upper edges of wings and keel. 



The experiments made by the author in artificially checking expan- 

 sion illustrate his deductions. 



In each whorl of the flower it is usually the anterior part (the 

 under side) which is favoured and grows fastest. In some species of 

 Lathyrus the left flank of the style grows the most rapidly. 



The axis of the flower is at first delayed, but later on the central 

 part develops greatly in diameter, leading to the separation of the 

 attachment places of the petals. 



The adaptations of the floral parts are, therefore, in large part 

 explained by the mechanical consequences of growth. — G. F. S. E. 



Leg'uminous Crops for Hawaii. By F. G. Krauss {U.S.A. 

 Exp. Stn., Hawaii, Bull. 23; September 1911; 8 plates). — Several 

 varieties of alfalfa are being grown at this Station with a view to 



