164 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



One of the causes is evidently the lack of lime in the latter. On the 

 other hand, the formation of ammonia is greater in light than in 

 heavy soils. The theoretical quantity of lime calculated as necessary 

 for the nitrification of a given amount of ammonia does not in reality, 

 according to the author's results, suffice for complete nitrification, this 

 process attaining its maximum rapidity with about three times the 

 theoretical amount of lime. Nitrification is favoured by the supply 

 of organic substances, such as sugar or peat decoction, but when too 

 much nitrogenous material is supplied dentrifiication takes place, 

 especially in light soils. The author's experiments on the bacterial 

 content of three originally similar soils treated differently for three 

 years (unmanured, ammonium sulphate added, sodium nitrate added) 

 lead him to the conclusion that the bacterial differences between such 

 differently treated soils are relatively shght, and that a much more 

 natural expression of the bacterial character of a soil is given by actual 

 soil experiments than by water cultures. — F. C. 



Nitrogen and Soil Fungi. By H. N. Goddard. {Bot. Gaz. Oct. 

 1913, pp. 249-305; 18 figs.). — The author has again investigated 

 the disputed question as to whether fungi can assimilate free nitrogen. 

 He finds many fungi which habitually live in the soil, and which he 

 suspects to be uniform in all soils and to be but little changed by 

 tillage and manure. 



None of the fourteen species isolated by him were able to assimilate 

 free nitrogen. 



A mycelium growth is possible in practically nitrogen-free media, 

 but it is in a starved and shrivelled condition. 



Myceliophthora when grown in nitrogenous solutions of different 

 concentration assimilates different proportions of the nitrogen- 

 compound. — G. F. S. E. 



Novelties, Protection of. By Ant. Kroone {R,ev, Hori., pp. 10- 

 II, Jan. I, 1914). — An interesting article on this subject, pointing out 

 the impracticability of establishing, as it were, a copyright, as can be 

 done in literature and art, by signature or otherwise, as it is impossible 

 to guarantee that a like novelty has not arisen in other hands. He, 

 however, gives the address of F Union horticole professionnelle inter- 

 nationale, whose secretary is M. Van Lennep, 15 Molenstraat, La Haye 

 (Netherlands), which has assumed the registration of novelties and 

 gives any desired information. — C. T. D. 



Nymphaeas. By H. Memmler {Garfenflora, vol. Ixiii. pt. iv. 

 pp. 84-91). — Water lilies require full exposure to the sun, and care 

 must be taken to replace the water lost by evaporation. The roots 

 of even the hardy sorts must be protected from winter frosts. The 

 species can be increased from seed, but the hybrids are unfertile. 

 The genus is divided into two groups and five subdivisions. 

 L N. apocarpiae : {a) Anecphya, (6) Brachyceras. IL N. syncarpiae ; 

 {a) Castalia, {b) Lotus, (c) Hydrocallis. 



