NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 
importance. Of these, six are species imported from Europe : the basket willows, 
which are the American green willow (Salix amygdalina), the Lemley willow 
(S. pentandra), and the purple willow (S. purpurea), and three tree willows, the 
white willow (S. alba), the crack willow (S. jragilis), and the weeping willow 
(S. babylonica). There is only one native tree species of wide distribution and 
importance, and this, the black willow (S. nigra), is found from coast to coast 
and from the Lakes to the Gulf. 
The black willow is by far the most important of the native species. In the 
region of its best development, trees have been found 4 feet in diameter at breast- 
height and 140 feet in height. The leaves are long and narrow, gradually running 
out into a long, usually curved tip. They are thin, occasionally sickle-shaped, 
bright green, and rather shiny. In width they vary from i to f inch ; in length 
from 3 to 6 inches, being usually about 3 inches. The buds are pointed, and 
£ inch long. The flowers, which are borne on catkins terminal on leafy branches, 
are from 1 to 3 inches long, with short yellow scales. The bark has character- 
istic corky protuberances on branches from one to three years old. These are 
particularly abundant on vigorous sprouts grown in the open and more occasion- 
ally in dense seedling stands. The bark of old trees is from 1 inch to i \ inches 
thick, occasionally 2 inches. — A. D. W. 
Winter and the Roek Garden. By J. H. Scaife (Irish Gard. xii. June 
1917, p. 82). — A chatty article, showing the effect the winter of 1916-17 had 
on the plants in an Irish rock garden. A contrast is made between the winter 
of 1915-16 and 1916-17, the former winter being mild up to March 1916 brought 
Saxifrages and many other plants out into flower in January. The writer 
tells us that Saxifrages have stood the weather well : certain Geraniums and 
Erodiums also have not suffered. But he says that Aethionemas, Lithospermums, 
and Hypericums have not been too happy; these fear east and north-east winds 
more than the cold. — E. T. E. 
Winter Cultivation, Early and Late Compared. By E. E. Pescott (Jour. Agr. 
Vict. Sept. 1916, p. 574). — ltis most important in Australia to plough the orchard 
early co take advantage of the moist surface and consequent easy ploughing ; 
and also to conserve as large an amount of moisture in the soil as possible. The 
longer the ploughing is delayed, the less an amount of moisture is retained in 
the soil for summer use. Deferred ploughing certainly means dry soil, enfeebled 
trees, and diminished results. The earlier the ploughing, the more soil water is 
conserved. When the ploughing is completed, the clods should be crushed and 
the land harrowed, so that a fine earth mulch may be obtained. The orchard 
surface should be kept as level as possible, and no irregular ridging or furrows 
should be allowed. If plants of a leguminous nature are grown to supply humus, 
they give the best result if ploughed in when in full flower ; if growth has been 
rank, the crop may be rolled before ploughing, or it mayibe mown, care being 
taken that the plants are distributed evenly over the ground, as large quantities 
in a mass should be avoided. Artificial or stable manures maybe given the trees 
at the same time ; they should be applied before ploughing. — C. H. H. 
Wireworms. By C. L. Walton, M.Sc. (Ann. Appl. Biol. iv. Nos. 1 and 2, 
Sept. 1 91 7 ; p. 7). — Where free use of lime, basic slag, kainit &c, was made 
on the land under observation cultivators seldom complained of wireworms. 
The majority of the affected areas were situated on sunny hill-sides where the 
soil was dry and shallow. In their energetic search for larvae some damage was 
caused by rooks disturbing the young swedes. 
In spite of abundant larvae few adult beetles were observed. 
On farm lands, harrowing in soot with subsequent rolling proved excellent. 
Fifteen cwt. of ground lime to the acre, mixed with the soil during preparation 
for roots, aided the clearance of the pest. — R. C. S. R. 
Wood Preservatives, Tests of. By Howard F. Weiss and C. H. Teesdale 
(U.S.A. Dep. Agr., Bull. 145, April 12, 1915). — In general, highly viscous oils 
do not readily penetrate, while oils with low viscosities penetrate wood readily. 
As temperature strongly influences the viscosity of oils, and as the diffusion of 
the preservative through the wood is one of the most important factors in proper 
treatment to secure best results, both the wood and the preservative should be 
sufficiently heated during the pressure period. Because of the low thermal 
conductivity of wood the treatments should not be made too rapidly. With 
water-soluble salts these precautions are not important. — A. D. W, 
