NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 
487 
to adult occupies approximately four weeks. It was also established that the 
female, far from laying the small number of eggs often attributed to it, is capable 
of laying over 1,800 eggs. The experiments recorded show there are three 
completed generations of this beetle ; part of the adults in the first and 
second generations hibernating, while the remainder lay eggs from which the 
second and third generations develop. The possibility of a partial fourth 
generation is suggested by the fact that the adults of the third generation were 
active and feeding voraciously during September. The insect is to be found 
in all stages during the summer months, and there is much overlapping of 
generations, — A. B. 
Columnea gloriosa. By C. Werckle (Rev. Hovt. Sept. 16, 1915). — Remark- 
able difference betv/een character of foliage under wild and cultivated con- 
ditions. — C. T. D. 
Comandra umbellata, Parasitism of. By G. G. Hedgcock {Jour. Agr. 
Res. v. No. 3, Oct. 1915, pp. 133-135)- — The Comandra are of importance in 
that they serve as intermediate hosts to the highly-destructive blister rust of 
pines (Peridermium pyriforme Peck). It has been found that the Comandra 
umbellata and C. pallida are themselves semi-parasitic upon the roots of numerous 
plants, including Acer rubrum L., Quercus spp., Castanea dentata, Betula nigra L., 
Populus tremuloides, Aster spp., Car ex sp., Rubus spp., Poa pratensis, Rosa 
canina L., Solidago spp., Vaccinium spp., and Spiraea salici folia L. Experiments 
prove, however, that Comandra can live without parasitism if necessary. 
These new facts render the destruction of plants of Comandra in the neighbour- 
hood of forest trees even more necessary than hitherto supposed. — A. B. 
Cotoneaster horizontalis. By S. Mottet (Rev. Hort. Sept. 16, 191 6). — An 
illustration showing the habit of this beautiful plant. — C. T. D. 
Cranberry Substation, Report of, for 1915. By H. J. Franklin (U.S.A. Exp. 
Stn., Massachusetts, Bull. '168, May 1916 ; 48 pp.). — This station has specialized 
in cranberry -growing for six years, and this report ranges over the whole subject. 
It discusses the factors affecting the keeping qualities of the berries, such as 
ventilation and temperature during storage, methods of handling and packing, &c. 
Several insect pests are dealt with, especially in relation to the effect of the 
regulating of the winter flooding of the bogs. On the subject of bog management, 
the writer advocates the adoption of the plan of cropping in alternate years, 
claiming for the practice the advantages of fewer weeds, an inexpensive and 
satisfactory means of controlling insect pests, and decreased expenses without 
reduction of yield. — A. P. 
Crinum deflexum Ker. By D. Bois (Rev. Hort. Aug. 16, 1916). — Two 
illustrations and description. — C. T. D. 
Crown-gall, Resistance to. By C. O. Smith (Phytopathology, vi. pp. 186-194, 
April 1916 ; figs.). — Inoculations of Bacterium tumefaciens were made into a large 
number of species of Prunus. Crown-gall was not produced on P. pumila, but 
all other species proved more or less susceptible. Varieties of P. domestica tried 
proved fairly resistant, as did damson, P. Planteriensis, and P. Besseyi, but crown- 
gall resulted in 100 per cent, of the inoculations in P. cerasifera type, P. monticola, 
and P. Simonii. Other species and varieties were intermediate in their powers 
of resistance. — F. J. C. 
Crownvgall Studies showing Changes in Plant Structures due to a Changed 
Stimulus. By Erwin F. Smith (Jour. Agr. Res. vol. vi. No. 4, April 1916, 
pp. 179-182; 6 plates). — Some interesting discoveries in connexion with 
experiments with the crown-gall organism (Bacterium tumefaciens) are set 
forth in this preliminary paper. 
When the internodal cambium is inoculated with Bacterium tumefaciens, 
the usual physiological tendencies are replaced by entirely new phenomena. 
1 . The elements of the mature tissues are produced in fewer numbers than 
ordinarily, and these elements lose their polarity, so that the most bizarre com- 
plexes of twisted and distorted tissues arise. 
2. The parenchymatous elements are greatly increased in number and re- 
duced in size, since under the bacterial stimulus many of the cambium cells 
appear to lose all power to produce mature tissues, but at the same time acquire 
a new growth impetus, a tendency to an uncontrolled, pathologically embryonic 
