CCxiv PEOCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Abies Douglasii seedlings. — Mr. Elwes, V.M.H., sent specimens of 

 young trees of this species, and also of Larix leptolejyis, about 2 feet high, 

 in a dying state. He observes : " They show a disease which I cannot 

 account for, but which is very prevalent in my nursery. The Larches are 

 believed to be raised from Japanese seed. I received plants of the same 

 species from Tortworth Court, Gloucestershire ; Hildenley, Yorks ; and 

 Dunkeld, Perth, all of which are perfectly healthy in the same soil, 

 situation, and season." The opinion of Mr. Worsley and others was that 

 the death of the plants was due to inferior vigour in the Japanese seeds, 

 and Dr. M. C. Cooke was of opinion that no fungus was present to 

 account for it. 



Yew, diseased. — Mr. R. W. Dean, of Wainsford, Lymington, sent 

 boughs of Yew attacked by Sphcsrella taxi. It is a fungus which does 

 but little harm to the trees, as it does not affect the branch, only the green 

 leaves. Lime is probably deficient in the soil. 



Scientific Committee, October 29, 1001. 



Dr. M. T. Masters, F.R.S., in the Chair, and thirteen members present. 



Harfs-tongue Fern, proliferous. — Mr. Druery exhibited a growing 

 plant, known as Scolojyendriumxar. cristatuin viviparuvi, O'Kelly. It was 

 a particularly proliferous seedling. Mr. Druery raised it from spores. 

 The young fronds bore dense clusters of young plants all over their sur- 

 faces, while the original bears them far more sparsely. Mr. Druery also 

 pointed out that the venation of the plants, like that of the parents, was 

 partially reticulated, instead of being normally furcate and free. Fronds 

 of three other species were produced which were affected by a peculiar 

 dark brown spreading rot, which Mr. Druery said was contagious, simple 

 contact of healthy fronds with fronds so affected leading to their rotting 

 in like manner. Dr. Cooke undertook to examine whether it was of 

 fungoid origin. 



Sunflower : Beplacement of flowers by scales. — Mr. Ballard, Colwall, 

 Malvern, sent a remarkable flower, in which every floret consisted of a 

 solid axis, with no ovary, the scales being very numerous, and more or 

 less of a purplish colour. Within them were several small florets, con- 

 structed in a similar manner, in having short solid axes, with nuirierous 

 scales. Within these the summit of the latter axes bore very minute 

 immature scales. There was no trace of any essential organs or corollas. 



Crocuses from Greece. — Mr. Bowles sent specimens of the following 

 species : C. Tournefortii, remarkable for never closing after the perianth 

 has once opened ; C. ochroleucus, with eight segments to the perianth, 

 and eight stamens ; C. sativus var. cashmirianus and var. Elwesii, a 

 scarce form ; C. longiflorus, vars. Wilhelmi and melitensis, with striped 

 perianth leaves ; C. marathonisius, a new Greek species ; and C. Icevi- 

 gatus, showing much range of colouring, including a pure white form. 



Crinum seeds. — Mr. Bowles also exhibited some germinating seeds of 

 C. longifolium from which the embryo had escaped with the exception of 



