170 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 



" The tobacco wash is more effective in sunshine than in dull cloudy 

 weather." 



" The use of soap at the rate of i lb. in 25 gallons of spray is 

 advisable." — A. A. K. 



Pear, Precooling and Storage of Bartlett. By A. V. Stuben- 

 rauch and H. J. Ramsey [U.S.A. Dep. Agv., Bur. PI. Ind., Circ. 

 114 ; Feb. 1913 ; pp. 19-24). — ^There are now approximately 

 50,000 acres of pear trees in the Rogue River Valley of Oregon, and 

 by far the larger portion of this acreage consists of Bartletts. Pre- 

 liminary investigations have been conducted with a view to ascertain- 

 ing the practicability of extending the period during which they can 

 be placed upon the market. The results indicate that the season can 

 be extended six or seven weeks by leaving the fruit on the trees a 

 fortnight longer than is at present usual, and storing it for four or 

 five weeks in a temperature of 32° to 34° F. after the fruit has been 

 precooled. — A. P. 



Pears, Keiffer Hybrid (Agr. Jour. Cape G. H. vol. v. No. 5, 



p. 769, May 1913 ; pL). — ^The plate shows two pears of the above 

 variety, one four-and-a-half, the other five inches in height. — A. A. K. 



Persimmons. By S. H. Hastings [U.S.A. Dep. Agr., Bur. PL 

 Ind., Circ. 120 ; April 1913 ; p. 16). — ^The native Texas persimmon 

 [Diospyros texana) was long regarded as a probable stock for the 

 Japanese species [D. Kaki), but attempts to produce a union failed. 

 This has now been accomplished by inarching the Japanese persimmon 

 on seedling plants of D. texana. — A. P. 



Phryma. By Theo. Holm [Bot. Gaz. Oct. 1913, pp. 306-318 ; 

 3 pL). — Phryma leptostachya is a sciaphilous type with very open 

 pneumatic tissue. Mechanical tissues (stem and leaf) are poorly 

 developed. There are no root shoots, and but few buds borne by 

 a short pseudo-rhizome. The hooked teeth of the persistent reflexed 

 calyx are well adapted for dispersing the seed. — G. F. S. E. 



Phyllocactus Hybrids. By C. Reiter [Gartenflora, vol. Ixiii. 

 pt. ii. pp. 46-49). — Phyllocactus thrive in well-drained pots containing 

 sandy loam with small pieces of brick and dried cow dung. In winter 

 keep the plants in a room from which frost is excluded, and move 

 them in summer to a sunny position in the open, give them plenty 

 of water, and occasionally liquid manure. The following are large- 

 flowered varieties : ' Andromache/ carmine ; ' Antigone/ the best 

 white ; ' Helena,' brilliant pink ; ' Iphigenia,' silky pink ; ' Ismene/ 

 pale lilac ; ' Magnolia,' like a pink Magnolia ; ' Nausicaa,' dark pink ; 

 * Stella,' pure white ; * Victoria Regia,' resembles the flower of a 

 Victoria Regia ; ' Violetta,' violet. ' Pheasant ' is dark brownish- 

 red with a magenta centre; 'Peacock,' chamois and magenta; 

 ' Phoenix,' old gold, bronze, and magenta. 



