SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE, JULY 20. 



cxxxi 



the entrance should be closed tightly with well- kneaded clay or wax. If 

 a large grey-and-white moth with delicately-spotted wings is found on 

 the trees, it should be killed, as it is probably the parent insect." 



Palms Flotvcrmg .— M.I. A. Doig, Dulwich, sent a portion of the male 

 inflorescence of Chanmrops Fortunei. The plant is described as being 

 some 4 feet high to the top of the crown. Another plant has flower^'d at 

 Chislehurst this season, and a third elsewhere. Lastly, a fourth has 

 flowered after an interval of twenty-seven years. This summer has 

 therefore appeared to be particularly favourable to the flowering of Palms 

 in the open air. 



Plants from Asia Minor. — Miss Willmott sent specimens of a white- 

 flowered Larkspur, and a golden-yellow Centaur ca, both of which appear 

 to be new to science, and at present unnamed. 



Lavender, failing. — Plants were received from Mr. A. H. Smee which 

 failed to produce their flower-spikes. The stems were remarkable for the 

 large size, and flat form of the leaves ; the leaves on the lower part 

 being small and with serrated margins. This feature appeared to show 

 that the plants had grown in too moist a locality, the vegetative vigour 

 being abnormally stimulated ; possibly also a frost had arrested the 

 flower- spikes. 



Scientific Committee, July 30, 1901 . 



Dr. M. T. Masteks, F.K.S., in the Chair, with eleven members present, 

 and Monsieur Marc Micheli, Geneva, visitor. 



Helianthus sui)posed Hybrid. — Mr. Buffham sent a flower, of which 

 ho writes : — " I think it is a real hybrid ; the seed-bearing par3nt was the 

 annual variety fertilised with Harpalium, and possibly with H. multi- 

 floTus as well." Not having blossoms of the parents for comparison, it 

 w^as thought hazardous to express an opinion as to the true nature of the 

 plant ; and the reference to a possible third parent was not very clear. 



Pear Mite. — Leaves of Pears attacked by this common parasite were 

 received through Mr. Gaut, of the Yorkshire College, Leeds, from Mr. 

 Brotchie, of Grimble Park, Saltburn. This insect is practically not 

 injurious to the trees unless it occurs in enormous numbers. Monsieur 

 Micheli observed that such was also the experience of fruit-growers in 

 Geneva. 



Fggs on AjJj^le- stems. —C8i>^tam Shortt sent specimens, observing that 

 " a pound of Apples were bought in Worthing about April. They were 

 of Tasmanian origin, and on the stalk of each, as well as on the hollow 

 portion of the Apple adjoining the stalk, were some reddish eggs." Mr. 

 Saunders reported as follows upon them : — "I have examined the eggs 

 on the stalk of the Tasmanian Apple, and as far aS I can tell they are 

 the eggs of one of the mites. I am keeping them to see if they will 

 hatch, but considering the time that they must have been laid I am 

 afraid that they are addled. The fruit, however, probably came over in a 

 cool chamber, so that may have retarded their liatching ; or they may 

 have been eggs which would not naturally hatch until the spring ; I mean 

 the antipodean spring." 



