SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE. 



Xli 



fibrous roots seemed to point to sufficient food supply. There was 

 no sign of fungoid or bacterial trouble. 



"The appearance of the cells of the leaf when examined with the 

 microscope was thought worthy of remark. The chlorophyll was 

 distributed in patches around the periphery of the cell, and the 

 cell contents generally drawn toward one side. It must be added 

 that later in the season the plants still showed the ' curl ' and 

 shrivelling of the tips, though the leaves remained quite green. 



" Xo sign of eelworm (Heterodera radicicola) could be found. The 

 swollen water- and food-storing portions of the roots were firm and 

 white. In many cases the tips of the shoots were weak and flaccid. 



"The method of cultivation followed was to plant out seedlings 

 at the end of August or early in September. A temperature of about 

 6o° was maintained, and adequate ventilation ensured by top lights 

 — 1 draughts ' is the explanation advanced by one foreman employed. 

 Water was freely supplied in addition to frequent spraying to keep 

 down red spider, and doses of liquid manure supplied about every 

 three weeks. A special mixed manure was also supplied freely. 



" During 1912 the same symptoms have developed to a serious 

 extent in other houses containing Smilax plants in every stage from 

 seedlings upwards. The Smilax on this estate is not ' rested ' at all, 

 though the opinion of the majority of growers is that a rest, however 

 short, should be given annually. It was frequently noticed that an 

 unusually robust plant would suddenly develop the characteristic 

 ' variegation ' and curl. 



" A three-year-old plant was kindly examined by Mr. Chittenden 

 at Wisley. He reports that there is no sign of damage by a specific 

 organism. Decayed and softened portions of roots exist, but only 

 on the older parts of the rhizome, and that the trouble had un- 

 doubtedly been aggravated by the presence of either thrips or one 

 of the mites. 



" The estate is situated on one of the highest portions of the island, 

 and the soil is a moderately heavy clay loam. Inside the Smilax 

 houses it was inclined to be wet, and coated with blue-green algae 

 between the rows. In the opinion of practical growers it was 

 sufficiently open around the plants. Analysis proved it to be 

 decidedly rich, the figures being : — 

 Total Nitrogen . . -20 

 Phosphates . -569 

 Potash . . -24 



Soda 



Lime 



Magnesia 



Iron . 

 Loss on ignition 

 Soluble salts 



. -85 



. 3-9 (as carbonate, about 2 per cent.) 

 . -08 

 . T 6 



. 9*o per cent. 

 •194 



"Noteworthy points are the large amount of iron and calcium, 

 both of which had been added in some quantity. 



