NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



339 



Pecan, The. By W. N. Hutt {Am. Pom. Soc, Bull. 7, p. 122). 

 — A study of the pecan from the horticultural point of view. The 

 grafting or budding of good types is advised, as seedhngs are subject 

 to considerable variation. There are now some hundred named 

 varieties of pecan grown in the Southern States. — E. A. Bd. 



Persimmon, The ; Native American Varieties. By W. F. 

 Fletcher {A7n. Pom. Soc, Bull. 7, p. 48). — A short account of the 

 native persimmon, its distribution, description, horticultural value, 

 and cooking recipes. — E. A. Bd. 



Phosphorus, Changes and Availability in Fermenting Mix- 

 tures. By W. Fottingham and C. Hoffmann {U.S.A. Exp. Stn., 

 Wisconsin, Bull. 29,. May 1913). — The addition of rock phosphate to 

 fermenting manure was somewhat advantageous, while that of acid 

 soluble phosphate proved to be the reverse. — C. P. C. 



Pinus radiata, Proliferation in. By Francis E. Lloyd {Bot. Gaz. 

 April 1914, pp. 314-319; pi. and 2 figs.). — A description of a pecuhar 

 form of this pine, in which the spur shoots proliferate. It was probably 

 brought about by abundance of water. One tree was almost without 

 whorls of branches, but nearly the whole of the main stem was densely 

 clothed with foHage, due to the proliferation of almost every fascicle 

 and giving a foxtail effect. — G. F. S. E. 



Pithecoctenium cynanchoides {Bot. Mag. tab. 8556). — Brazil to the 

 Argentine. Nat. Ord. Bignoniaceae, Tribe Bignoneae. Shrub, climbing. 

 Leaves opposite, 3-foliate, terminal replaced by a tendril. Corolla 

 white, yellow within, 2 inches long, curved. — G. H. 



Plant Diseases. By G. P. Clinton, Sc.D. {U.S.A. Exp. Sin., Conn., 

 Rep. 1911-12). — The first part of this report comprises Notes on Plant 

 Diseases in Connecticut, the second part is devoted to Chestnut Bark 

 Disease. 



Chestnut Bark Disease was first noticed in America in 1904 and 

 in 1906. Murrill ascribed it to a new fungus named DiaportJx parasitica. 

 Both conidial and ascus stages have been observed, but the writer 

 considers it comes more properly under the genus Endothia, and has 

 named it Endothia gyrosa var. parasitica. It has two closely allied 

 saprophytic or semi-parasitic forms, Endothia radicalis and E. gyrosa. 

 The blight suddenly appeared in America after the unusually severe 

 winter of 1903-1904, which injured trees in general in the North -Eastern 

 United States. These conditions unfavourable to the host, followed 

 by subsequent unusual summer droughts, the writer considers 

 may have caused a native fungus (which he maintains the fungus to 

 be) to assume unusual virulence and widespread prominence. He 

 therefore suggests that it may be useless to try to make a strenuous 

 fight against the fungus, since it will, under conditions favourable to 

 the host, return in time to its foimer inconspicuous parasitism 



The writer gives a good bibliography. — D. M. C. 



