SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE, JUNE 28. 



xlv 



Bose-leaf Black Blotch. — Dr. Cooke reported upon diseased leaves 

 sent from Bicester : — " The blotch on Eose-leaves is a most common 

 disease on Roses of all kinds, and is caused by a fungus named Actionema 

 rosce. See Journ. R.H.S. xxvii. p. 42, pi. hi. fig. 50. It may be miti- 

 gated by spraying, but as yet has not been effectually cured. All fallen 

 diseased leaves should be burnt in order to prevent infection of healthy 

 leaves. The diluted copper sulphate solutions are usually employed. They 

 should be applied early when the leaves are young and but little trace of 

 the disease is seen." 



Grape Vine Anthracnose (Glceosporium). — Dr. Cooke reported upon 

 diseased fruit received from Wiltshire : — " The disease on the berries is 

 in a very young state, so that there are no conidia at present, and it may 

 succumb to treatment. The use of rich stable manure tends to increase the 

 disease, or render the Vines liable to attack. Try dusting with powder of 

 flowers of sulphur mixed with a little lime. If this does not check the 

 disease, then spray with a solution of sulphate of iron. Let sulphur have 

 the first chance." 



Pears attacked by Midges. — Mr. Saunders, F.L.S., reported upon 

 samples received from Newtown : — " The Pears are attacked by the ' Pear 

 Midge,' Diplosis pyrivora, or rather by its grubs. The parent insect, 

 which is a small two-winged fly, lays its eggs in the blossoms as soon as 

 they are sufficiently open for it to be able to do so ; the grubs are soon 

 hatched, and at once make their way into the centre of the embryo fruit, 

 which they very soon destroy. There does not appear to be any way of 

 effectually dealing with the fly or preventing them laying their eggs in 

 the blossoms. Trees which are in a position and of a size that the fruit 

 can be easily examined should be carefully looked over, and any that are 

 found to be becoming distorted, or showing signs of the characteristic 

 black markings, should be gathered and burnt ; any Pears that fall 

 prematurely should also be collected and destroyed. In the course of 

 next month the ground under the infested trees should be given a good 

 dressing of kainit (not less than half a ton to the acre) : this will have the 

 effect of killing the grubs which have left the Pears and have buried 

 themselves in the soil beneath the trees. Perhaps a more certain method 

 of obtaining the same end is during the winter, when there is not much 

 work to be done, to remove the soil to the depth of two inches and burn, 

 bury, or scatter it, so that the birds can pick out the little chrysalides 

 formed by the grubs ; fresh earth should be used to replace that which 

 was taken away." 



Japanese Hop-mildeiu. — Dr. Cooke, V.M.H., reported upon samples 

 sent from Christchurch, Hants : — " The leaves are suffering from the 

 Oidium stage of Hop mildew, probably the common form. The only 

 remedy likely to prove effectual is that employed for the common Hop. 

 Freely dusting with the flowers of sulphur, or sulphur in combination 

 with lime. The same treatment is applied to the Vine-mildew." 



Wireworms. — In reply to inquiries by Mr. Hudson, Barnsley, Mr. 

 Saunders observes : — " There are about twelve different kinds of wireworms 

 which attack living plants. They are all the grubs of beetles, belonging 

 to the family Elateridcz : these beetles are commonly known by the 

 names of ' Click ' or ' Skipjack ' beetles, the females lay their eggs at the 



