NOTES AND ABSTRACTS, 
563 
Limestone Tester, A. By C. G. Hopkins {U.S.A . Exp. Sin., III., Cir. 185, Feb. 
1916). — It describes a simple apparatus for testing the purity of the various 
limestone rocks, much used as ground limestone for improving soils. 
A table is printed showing the weight of carbon dioxide at various tempera- 
tures and barometer readings to be used in calculating the amount of calcium 
carbonate present in tested sample, — C. P. C. 
Locust in Cyprus, The. By W. P. D. Stebbing, F.G.S. {Ann. Appl. Biol. 
vol. iv. No. 3, Dec. 1917, pp. 119-122). — Describes the methods since the 
British occupation in 1878 of combating the locust ravages in Cyprus. Before 
that date no attempts were made to solve the problem of preventing attacks. 
Among the most useful natural enemies are birds and lizards. The successful 
methods are : 1 . Egg-collecting by digging up the egg-masses, always laid in light 
soil bordering fields. 2. Stopping the crawling larval hosts by trenches, on the 
further side of which were screens topped with strips of American cloth. They 
were unable to surmount this obstacle and fell back into the trench, to be 
suffocated by the oncoming larvae. 3. Sprinkling feeding areas with a bacteria 
cultivation, causing an outbreak of epidemic disease among them. — R, C. S. R; 
Maize, Varieties of. By H. Wenholz (Agr. Gax. N.S.W. vol. xxviii., pp. 635- 
644, and 685-693 ; 13 figs.). — The following varieties of maize are officially 
recommended for cultivation in New South Wales : ' Learning,' ' Yellow Dent,' 
Reid's 'Yellow Dent,' Funk's 'Yellow Dent,' 'Early Yellow Dent/ 'Red 
Hogan,' ' Boone County White,' ' Hickory King,' ' Silver Mine,' and ' Early 
Clarence.' The illustrations show the general growth, and the ears of the different 
varieties, — S. E. W. 
Mealy-Bugs, Methods for the Study of. By G. F. Ferris {Jour. Econ. Entom. 
x., pp. 321-325; June 1917). — The author criticizes the use of the so-called 
antennal formulae (i.e. the relative lengths of the segments of the antennas) 
and the supplementary characters usually given — as totally inadequate and 
in fact misleading as specific criteria. He then details a means of staining 
specimens in order to accentuate characters that are said to be of essential 
importance. The specimens to be prepared are boiled in caustic potash in the 
usual manner and then removed, and the bodies washed out in clear water. They 
are next transferred to a one-half or a one-third strength magenta-red solution 
and left six hours. Finally the excess stain is removed by washing in 95 per 
cent, alcohol and the specimens placed for an instant in carbol-xylene and mounted 
in balsam. The method is equally applicable to insects other than coccids 
and has been found eminently satisfactory for certain aphides, particularly 
Chermes and Phylloxera, and with the larvae of Cecidomyidae. — G. W. G. 
Meconopsis nepalensis var. elata. By B. {Irish Gard. xiii. p. 103, July 191b ; 
1 fig.). — A handsome plant bearing large clear yellow flowers. Height, 3-4 feet. 
Basal leaves up to 15 inches long of greyish appearance, due to yellowish down 
interspersed with long soft hairs. Anthers deep orange. Quite distinct from 
M. paniculata. Soil, moist peat, as for M. Prattii* Flowering period, June. 
E. T. E, 
Meconopsis Prattii. (Anon.) {Irish Gard. xiii. p. 103, July 1918 ; 1 fig.). — A 
beautiful new Chinese species similar to M. racemosa. Flower scapes 2-3 feet 
high, flowers deep blue, basal leaves up to 1 foot long. White anthers ; soil, 
moist peat Flowering period, June. — E. T. E. 
Melon 'Petit Nantais.' By Vivet {Rev. Hort. vol. xc. pp. 136-137; 1 col. 
plate). — The Melon ' Petit Nantais ' is a hardy plant resulting from crossing 
' Orangine ' with ' Petit Prescott.' It excels its parents in flavour and in the 
colour of its fruit.— S. E. W. 
Melon Seeds {Rev. Hort. vol. xc. p. no). — New melon seed yields vigorous 
plants with numerous male flowers and not many female. The plants raised 
from old seed are less vigorous and produce many female flowers. — S, E, W. 
Mexican Apple. By E. N. Ward {Agr. Gaz. N.S.W. vol, xxix. pp. 134-136 ; 
2 figs.). — The Mexican Apple {Casimiroa edulis) flowers in spring and autumn, 
bearing flowers, immature and ripe fruit on the same branch. The fruit is as 
large as a medium-sized apple with a stone like an almond. The flavour is 
delicious, and contrary to popular belief no ill-effects were produced by eating 
the fruit.— 5. E. W. 
