SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE, JUNE 18. 



cxxvii 



Poppy having an intense crimson colour, a native of Asia Minor. They 

 were raised from seed brought from Smyrna, and have been growing for 

 two years spontaneously in a garden at Acton. Each petal had a small 

 black spot or line at the base. 



Peach blister. — Dr. Bonavia sent leaves badly attacked by this 

 common disease, Exoascus deformans. 



Apple Bark, threads on. — Mr. F. Marsh Read sent a piece of Apple 

 bark covered with twisted golden threads. He observes that " the main 

 stem for about 6 feet from the soil is ' ribboned ' ■\^'ith it." Dr. Cooke 

 reports upon it as follows : — " Portions of the bark of li\-ing Apple-trees 

 were sent for information. The bark was covered with long yellow fila- 

 ments, thin as a hair, and much contorted and interwoven together, 

 presenting a very singular and conspicuous appearance. Upon examina- 

 tion a number of compound cells may be seen in the bark, each with an 

 external orifice, from which the golden tendrils protrude. These 

 filaments are composed of myriads of very minute conidia or spore-like 

 bodies, adhering to each other as they exude. They are at first soft and 

 flexile, but soon, on becoming dry, the filaments are brittle and horny, or 

 hair-like, variously twisted and contorted, and little thicker than a human 

 hair. The number of very minute spore-like bodies composing each 

 filament must be enormous (each 5 micromillemetres long, and slightly 

 curved). The fungus has long been well known on Pomaceous trees, but 

 we have not met with it before upon living bark. It is known as 

 Cytospora carpliosperma. Later on, the same pustules are occupied by a 

 Sphjeriaceous fungus, which is believed to be the ultimate development 

 of this dimorphous organism, and in this condition each pustule consists 

 of a few flask-like conceptacles or peritheeia with rather long converging 

 necks. These peritheeia enclose numerous delicate cylindrical sacs, or 

 asci, each containing eight sausa,ge-shaped sporidia (16 to 18 by 3 to 4 

 mm.), nearly of the same shape as tho minute conidia, but many times 

 larger, in which condition the fungus is known as Valsa amhiens, and has 

 been found not only on Pear and Apple, but also on Maple, Beech, Hazel, 

 Alder, Plum and Cherry, Elm, Oak, Hawthorn, Poplar, Chestnut, Lime, 

 and even on Rose. Hence it is widely diffused and well known. It 

 would be a dangerous enemy if once it became established as a parasite 

 on living fruit-trees. The mature condition may be found late in the 

 autumn, in the winter, and in the early spring." 



' Grloire de Dijon ' Bose, Proliferous. — Mr. Chapman exhibited flowers 

 having their centres occupied by a green tuft of leaves, &c. He observes 

 that, of about two dozen plants, the whole of the flowers this year and for 

 several years previously have developed this peculiarity. 



Birch-tree Bark Diseased. — Mr. A. Walker, of Needham ]\farket, sent 

 some specimens, which Mr. Saunders undertook to examine. 



Cattleya Mendeli Malformed. — Flowers were sent by Sir Tre\or 

 Lawrence, as well as of Odontoglossum crispum, which Dr. Masters under- 

 took to report upon. 



Thistle Fasciated. — Mr. Houston showed an abnormally largo speci- 

 men of this common monstrosity. 



