NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



Gentiana verna. By R. A. Malby {Garden, Nov. i, 1913, p. 548). — 

 It occurred to the author that the difficulty of growing this plant 

 could be largely modified by inducing the plants to go to rest at 

 the end of the autumn, and a sheet of glass somewhat larger than 

 the tuft was supported over it by wires to keep off the rain. This 

 proved successful, and, to check the value of the practice, in 1912 two 

 patches were planted in a compost of loam, leaf -mould, chips, sand 

 and old mortar in about equal proportions in as nearly similar positions 

 as possible. In November one was protected by a sheet of glass, 

 the other being left alone. In March the glass was removed, and at 

 that time the unprotected plant appeared not appreciably harmed 

 by the wet winter. It ultimately developed eighteen flowers. The 

 protected plant developed rapidly when the glass was removed and 

 produced 206 flowers. The plants were about the same size when 

 planted, but by the summer of 1913 the protected plant had doubled 

 the unprotected in size. 



The good effect of this method of treatment is confirmed by H. 

 Turner, Garden, Dec. 6, 1913, p. 606. — H. R. D. 



Geranium Robertianum, Pollination of. By Rob. Stager {Beth. 

 Bot. Cent. xxx. Abt. i, Heft i, pp. 1-16).— -The flower of Herb 

 Robert varies between a fair weather and a bad weather type with 

 transitional conditions. Hence observations which appear to be 

 flatly contradictory are in reaUty both correct. In fair weather the 

 anthers shed their poUen rapidly, and may finish doing so before the 

 stigmas are ripe. Flowering requires half a day. In rainy or un- 

 favourable weather the stigmas develop more rapidly than the anthers ; 

 they may require one and a half to three days to do so. This last 

 type occurs in wet, cold places, even in fine weather. Colour, size, 

 and opening or shutting of the flower are much affected by light. 

 But the chief factors are temperature and relative humidity of the air. 

 Relatively high temperature with little air moisture hastens the 

 opening of the anthers, but low temperature and much moisture 

 delays their dehiscence and favours the growth of the stigma. 



The author describes a whole series of experiments by which he 

 unravelled this complicated system of regulation, by which sometimes 

 protandry and sometimes protogyny prevails. Both are sometimes 

 followed by autogamy. The author also studied a white variety 

 which is dichogamous. — G. F. S. E. 



Geranium Rosat, The. By Jean Dubled {Rev. Hort. de I'Alg. 

 May 1913, p. 203). — review of a recent work on the cultivation of 

 this geranium for distilling purposes. This industry is said to be 

 profitable, the small distillery necessary is cheaply installed, and 

 with a weU-made plantation a crop may be taken the first year. There 

 are cheaper chemical substitutes for the perfume on the market, but 

 these are said to be so obviously inferior to the yegetable essence 

 as to do it no harm commercially. — M. L. H. 



