fiXTEACTS FROM PROCEEDINGS. 
lix 
mould which seems to be undescribed. It appeared from addi- 
tional and more characteristic specimens that it is the vegetative 
portion which is principally attacked. 
He also brought dendritic spots on paper, which have been de- 
scribed and figured as an Alga, and which were forwarded from 
Ceylon by Mr. Thwaites. In one case there was a particle of 
metal in the centre ; and in every case the spots seemed to be de- 
veloped from a fixed centre. It was suggested that the particle 
of metal was iron pyrites, and that the spots arose from sulphate 
of iron, which, mixed with logwood, is often used to give paper a 
blue tint. The spots, however, are by no means confined to the 
blue-tinted paper. 
A plant of Wigandia imperialis was sent by Mr. Henderson, 
affected with the disease known under the name of black top, 
which is so common in Verbenas. It was considered due to some 
unsatisfactory condition of the roots. 
Dr. Masters stated that Aucuba-berries injured by frost, though 
apparently sound, had every portion of the contained seed black- 
ened and decomposed, with the exception of the raphe, which was 
quite uninjured. 
Mr. Alfred Smee brought fronds of Todea swperha affected by 
a species of Acremonium, which caused half of the frond to decay. 
Major Clarke stated that he found the chemist's dropping-bottle 
useful in applying methylated spirit to mealy bug &c. 
The Meeting then adjourned. 
GENEEAL MEETING. 
Major Trevor Clarke, in the Chair. 
Mr. Bateman made some comments upon several noveltjes 
amongst the Orchids. The Orchid sent from Mr. Eucker's gar- 
den as Masdevallia elephanticeps was clearly only a variety of M. 
coccinea, so that the true plant is still a desideratum. Masdeval- 
lias are cool Orchids, being natives of the highest mountains of 
Peru and New Granada. 
The top of a strong healthy specimen of a Mahonia was shown 
to the Meeting. The only way to obtain handsome plants was to 
lop off" the tops as soon as they became high enough. He also 
petitioned Orchid-growers to contribute to make up the loss 
