266 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



rich in carbonate of lime, and in places where there is a comparatively 

 even high temperature for goodly periods at a time. The bacterial flora, 

 which is able to fix nitrogen from the air, is of very wide distribution 

 in the Colorado soils, and it is thought that with a combination of such 

 favourable conditions as these they develop so vigorously as to produce 

 the effects recorded. 



It is suggested that the nitrates of Chile and Peru may have had to 

 similar origin. — A. P. 



Nitpogen Fixation in Colorado Soils. By W. P. Headden 

 {U.S.A. Exy. Stn., Colorado, Bull. 160; May 1910).— This deals 

 further with the investigations which formed the subject of Bulletin 155 

 (see above), and confirms the conclusions advanced there. It has been 

 found that one species of the nitrogen-fixing germ, which is very common 

 locally, produces a brown pigment, while nitrate of soda applied to the 

 soil in large quai^tities produces tne same mealiness of condition which 

 is one of the distinguishing features of the " brown spots." — A. P. 



Nut Culture. By B. C. J. Lewis {U.S.A. Agr. Exp. Stn., 

 Oregon, Circ. 3 ; 1908). — Some notes on the propagation and general 

 cultivation of walnuts, filberts, and almonds in the State of Oregon, 

 where walnut-growing is said to be becoming an important industry. 

 The soft-shell type of walnut such as the ' Santa Barbara ' is said to 

 bloom too early to avoid the late frosts in Oregon, where the hard shell 

 or French type is the most suitable to grow. — M. L. H. 



Nuts, Snout Beetles that injure. By F. E. Brooks {U.S.A. Exp. 

 Stn., W. Va., Bull. 128; March 1910, 6 plates, 8 figs.)— The forests of 

 West Virginia are rich in nut-bearing trees and shrubs, 40 to 75 tons of 

 chestnuts being marketed by several counties during favourable seasons. 

 Almost all varieties of nuts are attacked by the larvse or grubs of over a 

 dozen different species of snout beetle, frequently 50 per cent, of chest- 

 nuts kept for a week or so after gathering become " wormy." These 

 infested nuts are unfit for food, and do not germinate when planted. 

 With a few exceptions the beetles issue from the earth in July and 

 August, and eggs are laid in the nuts and hatch in one or two weeks, the 

 larvse feeding on the kernels. When full grown they leave the nuts 

 through round holes that they bore in the shells, and enter the soil 

 where they make a small cell in which to pass the winter months. In 

 June, July and August they change to pupge, and after a short time 

 transform to the adult stage. 



Several methods of control are suggested by the author, but spring 

 and summer cultivation of the soil to destroy the cells, and burning the 

 infested nuts are among the most practicable, the pests being difficult 

 to deal with on account of their habits of feeding. — T". G. J. 



Oaks, Mildew in {Jour. Soc. Nat. Hort. Fr.; Ser. 4; vol. xi. 

 p. 587; October 1910). — A fungoid disease of the oak called here 

 Oidimn, or Blanc du Chene, had during 1907 and 1908 spread rapidly 



