NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 
207 
' Oak Leaf ' is an advanced stage of reversion, and is always associated 
with mite, therefore the chances are that reverted bushes without ' Oak Leaf * 
owe their existence in some way or other to the mite factor, either patently or 
latently. 
Forty-six figures are given of the different variations of reversion, and are 
of great help in ascertaining slight as well as serious attacks. — G. F. W. 
Blastophaga and the Fig Family, Symbiosis of. By G. P. Rixford (Journ. 
Econ. Entom. xiii. pp. 459-463 ; Dec. 1920). — Botanists have identified more 
than six hundred species of Ficus. Some authorities are of opinion that each 
species of Ficus has its peculiar species of parasitic chalcid fly associated with 
it to assist in the process of fertilization of the flowers. 
At present more than one hundred* and sixty species of Blastophaga are known, 
all parasites on the fig. The symbiosis is one of the oldest known, and of the 
greatest importance. 
With two or three exceptions all the edible figs belong to the species F. 
carica, of which there are more than one hundred and fifty varieties cultivated. 
Of this large number, the Lob Ingir, the well-known Smyrna variety, is unique 
in requiring pollination to enable the fruit to mature. In the Adriatic race, 
which includes most of the varieties cultivated in all fig-growing countries, 
the fruits reach maturity without pollination, but contain no fertile seeds. 
Caprification is the term applied to the process of hanging caprifigs in the 
Smyrna fig-trees. The chalcid flies (Blastophaga psenes), which emerge from 
the caprifigs covered with pollen, eventually enter the receptacle of the young 
fruit by the eye carrying the pollen to the stigmas of the female flowers within. 
It follows that the caprifig must be cultivated contiguously with the Smyrna 
trees to obtain mature fruit. A detailed description of the life-history of the 
Blastophaga, family A gaonidae, and the pollination of the fig is given. — G. W. G. 
Bud Selection, with Special Reference to Apples and Strawberries. By V. R. 
Gardener (Univ. of Missouri Agr. Exp. Stn., Res. Bull. 39. August 1920). — 
Gives interesting results from a series of bud selection experiments conducted 
at above-mentioned station and at the Oregon Experimental Station. 
It was found that apple trees propagated from the high-yielding parent 
averaged about the same in quantity and grade of fruit produced as those propa- 
gated from the low-yielding parent, there being great variation between the 
individual trees in each lot. Ten successive generations of runner selection from 
high-yielding and from low-yielding strawberry plants failed to produce strains 
whose yield was higher or lower than the average of the variety. A considerable 
number of bud variations selected for propagation proved to be simple 
fluctuations, incapable of impressing their high-producing or low-producing 
qualities upon their daughter plants. 
A review of some of the most important contributions to literature devoted 
to this question of bud selection prefaces the report, and serves to emphasize the 
great diversity of opinions expressed. — A . N. R. 
Bulb Culture in the United States, Commercial Dutch. By David Griffiths 
and H. E. Juenemann (U.S.A. Dep. Agr., Bull. 797, 50 pp. ; 32 figs.) — The 
various methods of bulb culture are. described. Few plants are more widely 
adaptable and more easily grown than bulbs. Failure is often due to lack of 
moisture and high temperature occurring before the bulbs complete their growth. 
F.G. A. 
Bulb Mite, A Study of the. By P. Garman (Connecticut Agr. Exp. Stn., Bull. 
225, Jan. 1921, pp. 1 14-132 ; 3 plates, 3 figs.). — An account of the intrcduc- 
tion, life-history, and remedies against a well-known pest of bulbs, Rhizoglyphus 
hyacinthi Banks. This mite is structurally different from R. echinopus, which 
is the name of the European species. 
Minute descriptions are given of the egg, larvae and nymph, and adult stages. 
Host plants are narcissus, hyacinth, tulip, crocus, and Easter lilies — 
onions and potatos artificially — and probably the mite is capable of living on 
almost any bulb or tuber. 
The degree of damage depends on the open structure of the bulb scales, thus 
narcissi and lilies are the worst and tulips are the least attacked. 
Mites are able to penetrate and injure healthy growing bulbs. 
1 ■' Migration takes place in the hypopal or second nymphal stage by the young 
mites clinging to small flies and caterpillars. Tables are given showing the result 
of treating bulbs with insecticides, gases, heat, etc. 
The most successful methods proved to be the immersion of affected bulbs 
in nicotine sulphate (1-400) or nicotine oleate at 50 0 C. for 5 minutes, and hot 
water at 50 0 C. for 10 minutes. — G. F. W. 
