480 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
but on examining the plants recently, it was found that two 
of the Potatos growing on Tomato stalks appeared suddenly to 
be aw^are of the fact that, although producing flowers and berries, 
they had not yet produced tubers, and it being " never too late to 
mend," they have, as will be seen in'^Illustrations Nos. 48and 49, 
produced tubers from the axils of the leaves and stems. 
SUBSTITUTES FOR LARCH. 
By Dr. Maxwell T. Masters, F.R.S., F.R.H.S., kc. 
[Bead November 12, 1895.] 
The speaker, in introducing the subject, explained the nature 
and course of the disease which is causing such havoc in Larch 
plantations that it is believed comparatively few perfectly 
satisfactory plantations can now be found. From the circum- 
stances of the case there seems to be little or no chance of our 
being able to cope with or to stamp out the disease. It is not 
practicable to carry out, on the large scale required, measures 
which, where financial considerations can be more or less dis- 
regarded, may be successfully adopted. Foresters and planters 
under such circumstances have a right to seek information from 
botanists as to the substitutes that are likely to be available. 
Fortunately there are many. In making a selection from them, 
the first thing to do is to consider the requirements of the case. 
The ideal substitute for Larch would be one that is easily and 
cheaply procurable, perfectly suitable to our soil and climate, 
one that will not start into growth too early in spring, and 
one that will rapidly and at a low cost produce timber of good 
quality. A glance through the Bcjoort of the Conifer Conferences^' 
held in th(! Chiswick Garden in October 1891, will enable any 
one to see that there are many conifers which already more or 
less fully realise the ideal above stated, whilst if a demand 
sprang up there are many more that might be turned to 
profitable account. As bearing specially on the subject, the 
lecturer mentioned the pa))ers by Mr. A. 1). Webster on " Conifers 
foi- l^jconomic i^lanting"; by ]\Ir. Malcolm Duim, on the " Value 
in the liritish Isles of Introduced (^onifers " ; and by Mr. D. F. 
* See Advcrtisenionts at end. 
