XXvi ntOCEEDrNGS OE THE EOYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



was engaged in collecting plants for Messrs. Veitch and Sons — ex- 

 hibited in the Society's library a large number of curiosities which 

 he had acquired in his travels. These comprised various articles of 

 native manufacture, such as fans, screens, &c, collections of insects, 

 snakes, birds, shells, and geological specimens. In addition, a large 

 number of excellent photographs were shown, illustrative of the 

 most picturesque scenery and vegetation. 



FRUIT COMMITTEE. 



Henry Webb, Esq., in the Chair. 



Mr. Goldsmith, gardener to P. C. Hardwicke, Esq., Hollenden, 

 Tonbridge, sent a collection of twelve varieties of Pears to show how 

 they had kept this year. Many of them were quite out of season, 

 Beurre d'Amanlis being now only just ripe, and Beurre Superfin 

 was in its best condition, while several of those which are usually 

 autumn Pears were not yet ripe. Mr. Shirley Hibberd of Stoke 

 Newington sent twelve pans of Watercress remarkably well culti- 

 vated. They were of two kinds — the Erfurt Sweet Cress and the 

 ordinary "Watercress, of the latter of which there appeared to be two 

 varieties, one of a dwarfer habit than the other. A cultural com- 

 mendation was awarded. Messrs. Barr and Sugden, King Street, 

 Covent Garden, sent a collection of sprouts of Yariegated Kale, to 

 which a letter of thanks was accorded. 



SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE. 

 Sir Joseph Hooker, K.C.S.I., in the Chair. 



Vine Disease.— Dr. M. Cooke alluded to the new disease in the 

 Vine caused by a fungus like that producing the Potato disease, 

 and belonging to the same genus, viz., Peronospora viticola. This 

 disease it appears is spreading extensively on the Continent, and 

 has lately been recorded from Italy. 



New Zealand Plants. — Mr. G. E. Wilson showed a series of 

 beautifully executed coloured drawings by Mr. Nolan, of New 

 Zealand and Australian plants. The fidelity of the representations 

 and the tasteful grouping were much admired. 



Bud Variation m Spruce Fir. — Dr. Masters showed a fine 



