EXTRACTS FROM PROCEEDINGS. 



ciii 



SCIENTIFIC MEETING. 

 March 2, 1869. 

 W. "Wilson Saunders, Esq., F.E.S., in the Chair. 



Mr. Berkeley exhibited a curious form of Daedalea quercina, 

 which had been sent to the Editor of the ' Gardeners' Chronicle ' 

 by the Rev. H. H. Dombrain. It had more of the character of an 

 Irpex than Dcedalea, and was considered so interesting that it was 

 desired that it should be photographed. 



Specimens of a disease in shoots of Black Currant from the 

 Eev. A. Pitch, received also from Dr. Masters, were then pro- 

 duced, Mr. Berkeley remarking that the outer bracts were hyper- 

 trophied, and, in consequence, the delicate divisions of the inner 

 part of the bud were badly nourished, and death ultimately en- 

 sued. The Chairman pointed out its probable analogy with the 

 galls in hazel produced by a Cecidomyia, which was confirmed by 

 Professor Westwood, who stated that the disease in the Black- 

 currant shoots was produced by an extremely minute four-legged 

 Acarus. 



Two communications from Mr. Pish were then read, the speci- 

 mens which were intended to illustrate them unfortunately not 

 having been received. 



Mr. Pish wished to ascertain the reason why the variety of Potato 

 called the Lady's Kidney, which abounded in starch, did not pro- 

 duce secondary tubers during the wet weather of the late autumn, 

 while other varieties produced them in abundance, or even a third 

 growth of tubers. Kidney Potatoes are in general, it is believed, 

 less subject to secondary sprouting than other races; and per- 

 haps the abundance of starch may have some influence, as is the 

 case with over-ripened potatoes, which, it is said, occasionally ger- 

 minate with difficulty and produce the disease called "curl." It 

 was, however, thought that it would be impossible to discover the 

 exact rationale, while the Committee were desirous that Mr. Pish 

 should lay before them any observations he might make in future 

 with respect to this variety. 



The other communication had reference to a crop of Beet on 

 land which had received a strong dressing of guano. Scarcely 

 any portion of the roots was above the surface. 



