SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE, AUGUST 27. 



cxxxvii 



Agriculture have been able to adopt for Peach-yellows, and we fear that 

 it is equally applicable to ' silver-leaf.' " 



Miscellaneous Notes. — Dr. M. C. Cooke stated that he had been unable 

 as yet to find any fungus on the Crocus corms submitted by Mr. Bowles, 

 nor on the Violet leaves sent from Ireland ; the frosted spots on the latter 

 were due to the precipitation of the salts from the solution with which 

 the leaves had been sprayed. The damage was, however, suspected to be 

 the result of Phyllosticta Violce, in which case the leaves should be 

 sprayed with an ammoniacal solution of carbonate of copper, which acts 

 best when done early in the season, but in any case the diseased leaves 

 should be collected and burned. (See p. 491.) 



Gooseberrij Shoots. — Some shoots which were shrivelled and dead 

 were exhibited, the assigned cause being the presence of red-spider. 



A new case of Apospory — Mr. C. T. Druery exhibited cultures showing- 

 developed masses of prothalli on the soral sites oi Athyriuni Filix-fcemina 

 var. cristatum fimhriatum, raised by Mr. Garnett, of Bowness. A frond 

 of this Fern was exhibited at the recent meeting of the British 

 Pteridological Society, and Mr. Druery remarked at once its great 

 likeness in make to A. F.-f. clarissimum, Jones, though it differed from 

 that Fern in bearing long, slender, much-divided tassels at all the tips, 

 rendering it a very beautiful form. On examining the sori they 

 exhibited so strongly the white, woolly character indicative of apospory, 

 that permission was asked and obtained to put some material under 

 culture, the mimediate result of which was an extension of the sporangial 

 growth, demonstrating once again that abnormally slender, linear 

 pinnules are correlated with apospory. There are some indications also 

 of apical apospory, but not yet definite enough to be determined with 

 certainty. Soral apospory is, however, beyond a doubt. This represents 

 the fourth instance of apospory in Athyrium Filix-fcemina. 



Mr. C. T. Druery also exhibited a culture showing apical apospory in 

 Lastrea pseudo-mas apospora, already recorded ; well-developed prothalli 

 springing from all the fimbriate tips of the crests of the pinucP. 



Gouty Swellings on a species of Silver Fir. — A specimen was shown 

 of the swellings produced by a Coccus-like insect. Petroleum emulsion 

 was recommended as a palliative, and destruction by fire of the affected 

 shoots advised. 



Medicinal Plants in the vicinity of old ruins. — Mr. Houston asked for 

 information as to any paper dealing with the presence of herbs around 

 medieval ruins. The presence of Aristolochia Clematitis around the 

 ruins at Godstow, Oxford, was cited as one illustration. 



Poisonous Plants. — Mr. Bowles mentioned the poisonous efi'ects 

 produced by contact Avith the so-called Ampelopsis Hotjgi, which turned 

 out to be really Bhus Toxicodendron. Dr. Masters alluded to many 

 similar cases, all traceable to the distribution from a particular nursery 

 of BJius Toxicodendron instead of Ampelopsis. 



A conversation arose in connection with this subject, ^Ir. Druery 

 stating that honey in any form produced uncomfortable symptoms with 

 him ; and Dr. Cooke alluded to other cases in which Mushrooms produced 

 evil effects upon some persons and not upon others who partook of the 

 fungi at the same time. 



