NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



635 



Meconopsis racemosa. By ^^^ I. (Gard., Oct. 21, 1911, p. 510; 



fig.). — This beautiful plant has now been in cultivation nearly ten 

 years and is a native of the high Alpine valleys of Western China and 

 Tibet, being found also in the Eastern Himalayas. Some authorities 

 consider it as merely a variety of M. horridula, a very small plant with 

 simple flower-scapes found on high elevations, probably not now in 

 cultivation. The stem illustrated in the figure was nearly 2 feet high 

 with a raceme of flowers on rather long pedicels. It first makes a 

 rosette of long narrow lanceolate leaves, clothed with long stiff hairs, 

 Vv^hile the large flowers vary in colour from deep blue to a light purple. 

 It is a biennial, sometimes flowering in a year from seed, but often 

 goes on for another year before flowering. It is easily grown in a 

 sheltered or shady place, but moisture at the root is essential. Seeds 

 are produced and ripen freely, and during June and July a succession 

 of flowers are borne. Another member of the dwarf section of 

 Meconopsis is M. lati folia. — H. R. D. 



Mites in Orchards {Jour. Econ. Entom., ih., 5; pp. 430-434; 

 Oct. 1910). — The red spider, Tetranychus himaculatus, which .attacks 

 apples, etc., hibernates in the soil an inch or two beneath the surface, 

 though only a very small proportion of those reaching the soil sur- 

 vive the winter. The pest attacks apple, plum, prune, peach, pear, 

 cherry, and almond, as well ,as raspberries. Sulphur appears to be 

 the most successful remedy. 



Bryohia prate nsis attacks the same trees, but does not spin webs. 

 It lays eggs in July, which remain on the trees through the winter. 

 Spraying with the lime-sulphur has proved very effective. — F. J. G. 



Narcissi (New) [Gard., 1911). — 'Miss Maud We-st ' (Leedsi), 

 May 20, 1911, p. 238, fig. 236; 'Ormolu' Aug. 19, p. 395; 

 ' Heroine ' (Incomp.), p. 397; ' Fair Maiden ' (Incomp.), ' Coeur de 

 Lion ' (Barri), ' Hamlet ' (Trumpet), ' Mermaid ' (Giant Leedsi), p. 397 

 and coloured plate; ' White Giant ' (White Trumpet), p. 398; ' Golden 

 Jubilee ' (Yellow Incomp.), p. 399.— il. R. D. 



Notes on the Pupation and Hibernation of Tachnid Para- 

 sites. By W. E. Thompson [Jour. Econ. Entom., vol. hi., pt. hi., pp. 

 283-295; June 1910). — An interesting paper on the methods of pupa- 

 tion and the conditions which are best for the proper preservation of the 

 pupas of certain parasites of caterpillars of economic importance. The 

 paper is also of practical significance in connexion with the sending 

 of parasites long distances in a good state. — F. J. G. 



Olive, Drought Resistance of the, in the South-Western 



States. By Silas 0. Mason [U.S.A. Dep. Agr., Bur. PI. hid., Bull 

 192, Jan. 1911; plates). — In several parts of the arid districts of 

 Southern California and Arizona extensive orchards were planted 

 at one time on the strength of apparently reliable irrigation works. 



