NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



Currant * Diploma.' By U. P. Hedrick {U.S.A. Exp, Stn., 

 Geneva, New York, Bull. 364). — A variety remarkable for its juiciness 

 and transparency. Raised by the late Jacob Moore, of Brighton, 

 New York, in iSS^.—E. A. Bd. 



Currant Felt-Rust (Cronartium rihicola). By F. C. Stewart 

 and W. H. Rankin {U.S.A. Exp. Stn., Geneva, New York, Bull. 374, 

 February, 1 914, pp. 41-54 ; 3 plates, i map). — A series of experi- 

 ments devised to determine whether Cronartium rihicola passes the 

 winter on the currant. These gave negative results ; hence the 

 authors conclude that the fungus rarely, if ever, winters on the 

 currants. This fungus passes a period of its life on pine trees, 

 where it causes " blister-rust " and is then known as Peridermium 

 Strobi Kleb.— ^. B. 



Currant * Perfection. ' By U. P. Hedrick {U.S.A. Exp. Stn., 

 Geneva, New York, Bull. 364). — A seedHng from ' Fay's ProHfic,' 

 which it excels in the size of the fruit. Raised by Mr, Hooker of 

 Rochester, New York, in 1887. This must not be confused with a 

 red currant of the same name recently introduced by Messrs. Laxton. 



E. A. Bd. 



Dahlias, A Botrytis Disease of. By M. T. Cook and C. A. 

 Schwarze {Phytopathology, iii. p. 171, June 1913 ; figs.). — The disease 

 attacks the roots, causing the interior to be soft and wet, and to turn 

 yellow, brownish, or finally black. It is most severe under warm, 

 moist conditions, combined with poor ventilation. The fungus is 

 regarded as Botrytis cinerea ; it is thought that infection takes place 

 through wounds, and finally sclerotia are produced. — F. J. C. 



Date Palm, Growth of the. By A. E. Vinson {Bot. Gaz. April 1914, 

 pp. 324-327 ; I fig.)- — The author, taking the sum of the elongation 

 of the inner five leaves as measure of rate of growth, observed the daily 

 growth of four date palms at Tempe, Arizona. " Growth is most active 

 at about i or 2 p.m., and at that season in which there is the highest 

 minimum temperature. This is the summer period of highest relative 

 humidity. The rate of growth throughout the year is in most cases 

 in proportion to the heat-time units over 50° F. 



The ripening of fruit is probably affected by the same factors. 

 At Gafsa, in South Tunis (11 26 feet), only second-quality dates are 

 grown, for in that district there is 3o°-35*^F. difference in night 

 temperature ; the finest dates grow in the Djerid (197 feet alt.), where 

 there is no such difference. — G. F. S. E. 



Deutzia mollis {Bot. Mag. tab. 8559).— China. 

 Saxifragaceae, Trihe Hydrangeae. Shrub, 2-5 feet high. Leaves 

 ovate, 3 inches long. Inflorescence many-flowered, corymbose, 4J 

 inches across. Corolla white, flushed with pink. — G. H. 



