NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



Brown-tail Moth, The. By W. E. Britton {U.S.A. Exp. Stn., 

 Conn., Bull. 182, March 1914, Entom. Series 20 ; 16 figs.). — The larvse 

 feed on many trees, but prefer fruit trees. Oak, maple, and elm 

 are also attacked. A fungus in wet seasons kills many of the cater- 

 pillars. 



Cutting off and burning the nests in winter and spraying foliage 

 in August with lead arseniate are the methods most in use on fruit trees. 

 This, however, is not practicable in the forests. — V. G. J, 



Bud-Scales, Anatomy of. By Eduard Brick, Crefeld {Beih. 

 Bot. Cent. xxxi. Abt. i, Heft 2, pp. 209-308, Dec. 1913 ; with 2 pis.). — 

 The special aim of the author was to compare the anatomy of the 

 bud-scales with that of ordinary leaves. He examined fourteen types 

 {Euonymus, Dictamnus, Lonicera, Ash, Aesculus, Viburnum, Acer, 

 Prunus, Smilax, &c.). Each type is described minutely. He concludes 

 that bud-scales resemble leaves closely in origin, development, and final 

 condition. Yet, though the inner scales resemble leaves arrested 

 in development, the outermost oldest scales are leaves " divergently 

 developed." In the former, the microchemical structure of epidermis 

 and mesophyll cells as well as the intercellulars resemble those of 

 ordinary leaves. But the latter have developed on different lines, 

 starting at a very early condition of the leaf, and show three distinct 

 morphological groups. 



The scales may originate from the rudiment of (a) a whole leaf, 

 (h) a leaf -base {BlaUgrund), or (c) a leaf in which stipules are already 

 developing. 



The division of the corky tissue is usually such that the interior of 

 the bud is enveloped in a simple or many-layered, closed sheath of 

 cork cells. 



The vascular tissue is almost always reduced in the outer bud-scales. 



G. F. S. E. 



Carbon Tetrachloride as a Substitute for Carbon Bisulphide 

 for Fumigation against Insects. By F. H. Chittenden and 

 C. H. Popenhoe (U.S.A. Dep. Agr., Bull. 96, pt. iv. 1912). — Carbon 

 tetrachloride was found to be quite unsatisfactory for above purposes, 

 as it was only half to one third as effective, while the cost was double. 



C. P. C. 



Carpinus japonica [Bot. Mag. tab. 8534). — Central and Southern 

 Japan. Tree, 50 feet high, trunk 5 feet in girth. Leaves 2-4J inches 

 long. Catkins 2 inches long ; bracts | inch long, toothed. Stamens 

 numerous, with purplish anthers. Nutlet ^ inch long, attached at 

 the base to a bract. — G. H. 



Chalcidids Injurious to Forest Tree Seeds. By S. A. Rohwer 

 {U.S.A. Dep. Agr., Bur. Entom., Tech. Series 20, part vi. Feb. 1913). — 

 Up to the present time there are seven species of chalcidid flies which are 

 known to attack the seeds of certain forest trees (principally conifers). 



Y 2 



