490 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
growing fruit, &c, demands knowledge and experience, and this is at least equally- 
true in growing drug plants. 
The plants briefly dealt with are Burdock root, Cimicifuga, Symphytum or 
Comfrey, Senega {Poly gala Senega), Dandelion, Foxglove, Aconite, Cramp Bark 
{Viburnum Opulus) (for which the spurious Acer spicatum has been almost 
universally sold), Wormseed {Chenopodium ambrosioides, or C. anthelminticum), 
Canadian hemp {Apocynum cannabinum), Angelica, Lovage, Green Hellebore 
{Veratrum viride), Iris versicolor, Unicorn root {Aletris farinae), Lily of the Valley, 
Valerian, Caulophyllum thalictroides, Hydrastis canadensis, Ginseng, Rhamnus 
Frangula, Peppermint and Spearmint, Mustard (white and black), Stramonium, 
Horehound, Virginian Snakeroot {Aristolochia Serpentaria), Belladonna, Pinkroot 
{Spigelia marilandica), Colchicum, Sage, Thyme, Origanum Onites and 0. hirtum, 
Arnica, Cascara Sagrada {Rhamnus Pur shi ana), Capsicum fastigiatum, Pyrethrum, 
Hemlock, Anise, Male Fern, Santonica {Artemisia pauciflora), Ergot, Cannabis 
indica, Cone flower {Brauneria pallida), Larkspur, Caraway, Coriander, Dill, 
Fenne], Catnip, Henbane, Chamomile {Anthemis nobilis and Matricaria Chamo- 
milla, the former not much used), Marigold, Tansy, American Pennyroyal 
{Hedeoma pulegioides), Elecampane, Calamus, Orris root, Marsh Mallow, Boneset 
{Eupatorium perfoliatum), Lavender {Lavandula angusti folia), Lobelia inflata, 
Pokeroot, Wintergreen, Alkanet. Pamphlets and books upon the cultivation 
of the plants are listed. — F. J. C. 
Dry-rot. By Prof. Percy Groom, D.Sc, M.A. {Jour. Bd. Agr. vol. xxiii. no. 5, 
August 1 91 6). — In practically every house in this country fungi are to be found 
growing on the woodwork or floor. Some are harmless or relatively harmless, 
but others cause deep-seated rotting and are known as " dry-rot " fungi. By 
" dry-rot " practical men mean the decay that is induced in timber that is 
apparently sound when used. 
The fungi involved are not identical, but Merulius lacrymans is the most 
destructive in this country, other important types being Coniophora cerebella 
and Polyporus vaporarius. Merulius lacrymans is usually found as large pancake- 
shaped, flat, rust-coloured structures showing white margins. These are the 
fructifications which produce the spores which, though thin-walled, are. when 
kept dry, long-lived and retain their vitality for at least many months. 
Recently it has been shown that its association with other " dry-rot " fungi, 
especially Coniophora cerebella, has important practical bearings, for Merulius 
once established can manufacture water and thereby attack and moisten the 
driest wood and incidentally render the latter open to attack from Coniophora, 
which requires a wet matrix. Merulius, having once gained an entrance to wood, 
can send hyphae into it and also along its surface. These hyphae form a spawn which 
can extend to other wood over innutritious surfaces, such as brick walls, metal 
pipes &c, even penetrating the mortar of walls and thus gaining an entrance to 
other rooms. The paper then goes on to distinguish the hyphae of the common 
species and to suggest measures of control. — G. C. G. 
Educational Courses, Home Projects In Secondary Courses in Agriculture. 
By H. P. Barrows {U.S.A. Dep. Agr., Bull. 346, Feb. 1916). — Students in 
secondary schools in the States are now receiving vocational instruction in agri- 
culture and horticulture. The present bulletin contains suggestions for the 
student's actual observations and records of work done at home as part of his 
educational training and as an aid to his career. It develops an idea commented 
upon in an earlier bulletin (No. 281, Aug. 191 5). — F. J. C. 
Eria ornata {Bot. Mag. t. 8642). — Malaya. Nat. Ord. Orchidaceae, tribe 
Epidendreae. Herb, epiphytic. Leaves 8-10 inches. Scape suberect, i-ij 
foot long, clothed with imbricate sheaths. Many-flowered. Bracts large, 
inch long, bright, reddish-orange. Flowers 2 inches long, brown, tomentose ; 
column clavate. — G. H. 
Eria tomentosa {Bot. Mag. t. 8662). — Indo-China. Nat. Ord. Orchidaceae, 
tribe Epidendreae. Herb, epiphytic. Leaves to 9 inches long. Scapes 10-13 
inches long. Flowers 1 inch long, brown-tomentose externally, pale yellow 
perianth. — G. H. 
Eueharis Lowii {Bot. Mag. t. 8646). — Western Tropical America. Nat. Ord. 
Amaryllidaceae, tribe A marylleae. Herb. Bulb globose. Leaves ovate-cordate, 
shortly cuspidate, 9 inches long, 7 inches wide. Peduncle, 2 feet, 2-5 flowered. 
Perianth white, 4! inches across. — G. H. 
