THE MEDITERRANEAN NATURALIST 
297 
, acutifolius too, whose flowering months are Sep- 
. temb.er and October, was everywhere in fruit early 
in the latter month, and I did not find a single 
plant in flower, although a magnificent spray of its 
flowers was gathered in October last year. A 
double variety of Ranunculus bullatus, and an 
unusual form with a branched flower stalk were 
met with in the Zebbug valley, which also yielded 
a curious double variety of Beilis sylvestris with 
green flowers. Cyperus longus.yva. s growing abun- 
dantly in a clover field near Musta on November 
1st and two tiny plants of Hedyscirum coronarhan 
had struggled into flower in the same field. Fedio 
cornucopia ,- which, ordinarily does not flower till 
January was found on the 7th November, affording 
further evidence of the forwardness of plants this 
season, due, no doubt, to the early rains. On the 
the. same day. Andrackne te/ephioides, a pretty 
little plant with tiny monoecious flowers, was 
found growing on a heap of stones. It seems to 
be very rare in Malta. Sueda marittima, Atriplex 
hastata , crithmitm maritimum, two sea-lavenders, 
( Statice bellidifola and G. dyclhiociada) were 
found on rocks by the sea, whilst strange to say, 
a few lingerers from the summer were gathered in 
the shape of the beautiful yellow flowers of.tlie 
horned .poppy, Glaucium luteum, a plant which is 
entremely abundant in some localities. 
NOTES AND NEWS. 
The tomato-crops of last season, in the Maltese 
Islands, suffered severely from the the fungus 
Phytophora infestan e , the peronospora of the po- 
tato. It is, however, a remarkable fact that ear- 
wigs, caterpillars, aphides, snails, and slugs always 
carefully avoid this plant. 
Avery violent shock of earthquake is reported 
to have occurred at Bianeavilla, JSicily, on the 
morning of the 23rd iust. 
A novel industry has been started in Paris says 
Le Prngres Medical , consisting of the trans- 
formation of ordinary oranges into the more mark- 
etable varieties known as blood oranges. This is 
done by injecting into them Biebrich’s scarlet, or 
roeelline, a harmless agent obtained from diazoben- 
zol in a solution of B. napthol. 
We desire to acknowledge the receipt of the 
“ Actesde la Societes Scientiiique du Chili ” Tome 
II, 1892. 
An international Medical Congress is to meet at 
Rome next year, which it is announced the King 
of Italy will open in' person. 
The Malta Council of Government has sanction- 
ed the adoption of the measures which were propo- 
posecl by the Vine Disease Commission in August 
last. 
Active steps are to be at once taken to prevent 
the spread of the baneful disease which so serious- 
ly affected the wine industry of the islands last 
season. It has been estimated that there are at the 
present time about one million vines in Malta and 
Gozo, and the cost of an effective treatment will 
be less than one grain per vine. (One twelth 
of a penny). 
In a short article which appeared in our last 
issue reference was made to certain experiments 
that had been tried in France, Italy, England and 
America for the purpose of determining an effec- 
tive remedy for the potato disease (Phytophora 
inf e stans ), and at the same time a recommenda- 
tion was made to the Maltese potato growers to 
give the matter their serious attention. 
How far this warning was justified, is now being 
markedly demonstrated, for judging from the pre- 
sent condition of the potato crops in the island it 
seems probable that this seasons yield will be an 
almost total failure. 
Any hint that may have for its purpose the free- 
ing of our houses from that insufferable pest the 
mosquito will be gladly welcomed by our readers. 
It is well known that mosquitoes in common with 
any other kids of insects deposit their eggs in 
water and therefore wherever there are water 
receptacles there, the mosquito will increase and 
multiply.' A simple remedy to prevent this has 
been lately suggested by a correspondent from 
B.inkok in Siam. It consists in making a couple 
of wrought iron nails red hot and dropping 
them into the water which it is desired to keep 
clear. 
A petition is to be presented to H. E. the Gov- 
ernor of Malta praying that some restriction* 
