NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



631 



instead of close to it as in other Gladioli. Ihe bulbs therefore mature 

 and flower much more quickly. — F. A. W. 



Gnaphalium orientale, Culture in France {Die Gart., Oct. 14, 



1911, pp. 375). — This plant was first introduced about a hundred years 

 ago to the Eiviera and other parts of France with a generally warm 

 and dry climate. Formerly only about thirty acres were grown, which 

 have now been increased to about five thousand acres. The culture is 

 usually undertaken by small families or small proprietors of a few acres 

 of land suitable for flower-growing, and the profit on the flowers is 

 fairly high, while the labour is small. The flowers, when developed, 

 are dried ; some are bleached to a pure white, others are dyed red, or, in 

 fact, any colour, but the greater part are left with their natural golden 

 yellow colour. By far the largest quantity of these so-called ' Immor- 

 telles ' is sent to the United States of America, with a heavy protective 

 duty of 25 per cent., or, if sent in wreath form, of 60 per cent, import 

 duty. California and Mexico have tried to grow, and do away with 

 French import, but they have not succeeded. — G. R. 



Hellebores. By F. Leplace {Le Jard., xxiv., 572, p. 378; 

 Dec. 20, 1910; 1 fig-)- — A good general article on the. genus Helleborus, 

 and the eight to ten species which it comprises. The author tries to 

 clear up the nomenclature, and describes the following groups and their 

 respective varieties, of which he gives the characteristics. 1, Helle- 

 borus niger L., two varieties; 2, H. orientalis Gars. (syn. H. officinalis 

 Salisb.), seven varieties; 3, H. viridis L., two varieties; 4, H. odorus 

 W. and K. ; 5, H. lividus Ait. (syn. H. foetidus L.), var. B. H. triphyllvs 

 Lank., one variety; 6, H. foetidus L. ; lastly, 7, H. hybridus, whicii 

 includes a numerous series of hybrids cultivated in ' the last twenty- 

 five years. The author points out that the fault of most of these 

 garden varieties is that the flowers droop ; horticulturists should aim at 

 obtaining new varieties with erect flowers similar to the Christmas Eose. 

 Ample directions are given for cultivation. — F. A. W. 



Heterocampa g-uttlvitta, natural control of. By W. F. Fiske 

 ! and A. F. Burgess {Jour. Econ. Entom., iii., pt. 5; pp. 299-394). — 

 The beetle Galosoma frigidum was found to feed extensively on the 

 pupre of the gipsy-moth, and the egg-parasite Telenomus graplae 

 destroyed a large number of eggs. These two factors appear to be 

 keeping the gipsy-moth under control in certain parts of the United 

 States.— F. J. C. 



Hollyhock Rust (Der Malvenrost (Puccinia malvacearum 

 Mont.), seine Verbreitung-, Natur und Entwickelung-sgre- 



SChichte). By J. Eriksson {Kungl. Svenska Vetens. Handl., Bd. 47, 

 No. 2 ; pp. 125 ; June 1911 ; plates and figs.). — This very full account 

 3f the too well-known hollyhock rust deals with the introduction and 

 spread of the fungus Puccinia malvacearum into the various parts of the 

 world, and gives a long account of its life-history and effect on the 



