NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



495 



oval shining leaves, prostrate, and tall spikes of pale blue flowers and 

 small leaves. Some have white flowers and variegated leaves. 



Less well-known are the creeping species, which are particularly 

 suited for rockwork. Among these are: V. prostrata, V. saxatilis, 

 V. apliyU-a, V. Allionii, V. nummularia, V. alpina, V. repens, and 

 F. didyma.—F. A. W. 



Villaresia mucronata {Bot. Mag. tab. S376).— Chile. Family, 

 Icacinaceae. Tree, 40 feet high; leaves, alternate elliptic-oblong; 

 2-3 inches long on old trees, with a spinulose lip only ; on younger 

 plants, and on basal suckers, ^^■ith a spinulose-toothed mairgin; 

 leathery; flowers, 5-merous ; petals, yellowish-white, -^r inch across, 

 in dense clusters. — G. H. 



Vine Manuring'. By F. de Castella {Juur. Agr. Vict. May 1911, 

 pp. 346-353). — Vines have been increasingly manured within the last 

 twenty years. Gypsum is very largely used together with oil cake, 

 superphosphate, sulphate of potash. Basic slag is generally preferred 

 to superphosphate in all except limy soils. Organic matter is of 

 importance added in the form of farm-yard manure, where obtainable 

 in sufficient quantity, also desiccated blood and animal refuse, fish 

 guano, woollen rags, horn turnings, and debris (perfectly roasted), 

 also vegetable substances, as oil cake, sea-weed, pressed wine skins, 

 branches of scrubby plants, such as box and Cistus, which are chaffed 

 before ploughing in. — C. H. H. 



Violet Disease (Oesier. Gart. Zeit. vol. vi. pt. 3, p. 112). — To pre- 

 vent the disease produced by Urocystis Violae moisten the seed with 

 a ^ per cent, solution of formalin, and sterilize the ground with an 0.8 

 solution.—^. E. W. 



Watsonia Mariana Ardernei. By S. Mottet {Rev. Hort. 

 Nov. 1, 1910; pp. 503-5; two illustrations). — A very handsome 

 bulbous plant of the Iris family allied to the Freesias and Gladioli, and 

 by the illustrations forming fine floriferous clumps 5 feet high, bearing 

 branched panicles of perfectly white flowers, admirably adapted for 

 wedding bouquets and table decoration. Plant out in April like 

 Gladioh.— C. T.D. 



Weeds, Seeds of Michigan. By W. J. Beal {U.S.A. Exp. Stn., 

 Michigan, Bull. 260; March 1910; 214 figs.).— A study of the seeds or 

 'seed-like fruits, the illustrations depicting them with great care and 

 minuteness of detail. Years ago there were only 35 kinds of weeds 

 in the State, now there are nearly 250, most of them coming from 

 older countries. — A. P. 



White Fly, The Woolly. By E. A. Back, Ph.D. {U.S.A. Dep. 

 Agr., Bur. Eniom., Bull. 64, pt. viii. ; May 7, 1910; 1 plate, 4 figs.).— 

 An account of Aleyrodes liowardi, Quaintance, a new enemy of the 

 Florida orange hitherto only known to infest orange trees in Cuba and 



