NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



of Hve stock, it is quite possible that if eaten in quantity the foHage 

 of some others would induce poisonous symptoms and even death 

 in the animals concerned. It is noteworthy, however, that according 

 to Pott the needles of Picea excelsa, Abies pectinata, Larix europaea, 

 and Pinus sp. are, in the mountainous districts of Steiermark, Karnten, 

 and Tyrol, extensively fed to cattle and sheep — chiefly, perhaps, as 

 an appetizer and in small quantities as a dietetic. Juniperus sp. are 

 similarly utilized in some districts. To what extent the foliage may 

 be eaten without harmful consequences is not known, but Pott states 

 that large quantities can cause hsematuria and similar effects. There 

 is one record of Cupressus macrocarpa having been the apparent cause 

 of the d eath of four bullocks, and in another instance the poisoning 

 of three heifers, one of which died, was attributed to Cupressus 

 nootkatensis. — A. S. 



Poisons, Metallic. By C. B. Lipmans and F. H. Wilson [Boi. 

 Gaz. June 1913, pp. 409-420). — The authors discuss the evidence 

 regarding copper, zinc, and manganese poisons on the growth of plants, 

 and give the result of their own experiments. 



Wheat and Vetch were grown in pots with various solutions of 

 copper, zinc, and magnesium sulphate. With copper and zinc small 

 amounts seemed to produce stimulation in Vetch but not in Wheat. 

 Toxic effects were not observed as soon as is usual in such experiments. 



According to the authors, both Wheat and Vetch are stimulated 

 in the soil by manganese sulphate up to 800 parts per miUion for 

 Vetch and 2000 for Wheat. 



The authors also think that considerable amounts of sulphuric 

 acid may be added to the soil without injury to plants. — G. F. S. E. 



Poria, New Species of. By Adeline Armes {Bot. Gaz. May 1913, 

 pp. 397-399; 6 figs.).— This new species was causing considerable 

 damage to the timber in certain buildings, and resembles Merulms 

 lachrymans. — G. F. S. E. 



Potash Manuring and Market-Garden Crops [Jour. Bd. Agr., 

 vol. xxi.. No. I, pp. 39-43). — The article deals mainly with the 

 effects produced on market-garden crops by potash starvation, as 

 seen in the well-known experiments conducted by Dyer and Shrivell 

 at Hadlow. The plots were laid out in 1894 in a field which was 

 previously under ordinary arable cultivation, the soil being a poor 

 clay loam or brick earth of lightish colour, resting on a deep bed of 

 heavy clay. With the slight alterations suggested by experience 

 obtained in the course of the trials, the plan of the experiments has 

 been the same throughout, and in the case of most of the crops it is 

 possible to observe the effect of withholding potash over a long series 

 of years from crops grown both with and without a moderate dressing 

 of dung. 



From an examination of the figures in a table showing the average 

 annual yield from an acre for a number of seasons it is evident that, on 



