334 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



distributed by rain and dew. Fruit injured by scale insects is readily 

 infected. 



The authors recommend the following as control measures : 



(i.) Spray with Bordeaux mixture just after the blossom has fallen, 

 and a second time about 3-4 weeks later. 



(ii.) Spray for scale. It has been observed that after spraying 

 with a fungicide there is a marked increase of scale. 



(iii.) Carefully prune away all sources of infection in the way of 

 dead branches, and remove all cu'ls and dead mummified fruits. 



D. M. C. 



Mazus reptans {Bot. Mag. tab. 8554). — Himalaya. Nat. Ord. 

 Scrophuiariaceae, Tribe Gratioleae. Herb, perennial, tufted, 1-2 

 inches high, prostrate and rooting. Leaves opposite, i inch long. 

 Racemes, 2-5 flowered, erect, 2 inches long. Corolla unequally 2- 

 lipped, purplish blue, lower blotched with white, yellow, and red- 

 purple. — G. H. 



Mesembryanthemums, Tannin of. By Dr. O. Oberstein (Beih. 

 Bot. Cent. xxxi. Abt. i, Heft 3, pp. 388-393 ; with 2 plates). — The leaves 

 of Mesembryanthemum often contain beautiful tannin cells, some- 

 times visible to the naked eye (Gerbstoff-idioblasts) . The author 

 tested the contents of these cells with various reagents and finds the 

 characteristic tannin reaction. 



The Hottentots in South Africa, in fact, used M. coriarium Burch. 

 for tanning. The author discusses the possible uses of these cells 

 (protection against insects or snails, as reserve material, or as a method 

 of hghting the interior of the leaf) without coming to a definite 

 conclusion. — G. F. S. E. 



Musk-melons, Fertilizer Experiments with. By Jno. W. Lloyd 

 [U.S.A. Exp. Stn., Illinois, Bull, 155, April 1912). — Twenty plots were 

 treated with varying amounts of manure and compound fertilizers. 

 In the results the highest yields were obtained by the addition of 

 2 to 3 tons manure, plus 640 lb. of compound fertiHzer. Compound 

 fertilizers alone decreased the crop considerably. — C. P. C. 



Mutation and Hybridization, Independent Phenomena. By R. R. 



Gates {Zeit. f. Induk. Abstam. u. Vererb. Bd. ii. Heft 4, 1914, pp. 209- 

 279 ; plates) . — The author gives a long account of experiments carried 

 out to ascertain the relation between hybridization and mutation, 

 and concludes that the two phenomena are independent. Many 

 have expressed the opinion that de Vries' mutations were nothing 

 but the splitting of hybrid characters, but according to the author's 

 view, based on the results of a long series of experiments, this 

 explanation of the phenomena is not tenable. — F. J. C. 



Narcissus Flies [Jour. Bd.' Agr^ vol. xxi. No. 2, pp. 136-141 ; 

 plate). — The large Narcissus Fly, Merodon equestris F., and the Small 



