SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE. 



ccxxix 



others raised, including 1 Mrs. Heal,' and later double-flowered forms 

 and plants with quite large flowers, and of a variety of shades, but none 

 pure yellow or pure white so far. Along with the increase in size 

 there was at first a drooping habit of florescence, but this was corrected 

 by crossing back on to the original species, B. socotrana, which carries 

 its flowers erect. B. socotrana does not appear to have handed on 

 its peltate leaves to its offspring, but its persistent floral leaves are 

 seen in the new forms, which retain their flowers for more than a month, 

 until they fade without dropping. The Committee unanimously re- 

 commended a Certificate of Appreciation to Mr. John Heal for the 

 remarkable and successful work he had accomplished in raising these 

 decorative plants. 



Leaf-cutting Bee. — Mr. Bowles showed the foliage of horse-chestnut 

 with the well-known circular pieces removed by this insect. No member 

 of the Committee had seen the leaves of this tree attacked in a similar 

 way before. 



Apples splitting. — Mr. W. Voss of Raleigh showed Apples which 

 had split after they had been placed in the store. The Committee 

 were of opinion that the late rains had so swollen the flesh of the 

 Apple after the skin had become set that the latter could not long 

 withstand the pressure set up. Mr. Voss also sent fruits of Apples 

 ' Annie Elizabeth ' and ' Cox's Orange Pippin ' affected with bitter-pit. 



Prunella vulgaris on a lawn. — A piece of lawn with this well-known 

 weed was sent. It often occurs on lawns and spreads close to the 

 ground when cut down by the mower. It is difficult to eradicate, but 

 dressings at intervals with sulphate of ammonia at the rate of ij cwt. 

 to the acre would probably kill the foliage of the weed and encourage 

 the growth of the grass. Another method suggested was to forgo 

 mowing for a time, and so permit the plant to grow tall enough to be 

 removed by hand. 



Growth on bulb. — A bulb was sent by Miss Skelton with a curious 

 growth on its side, apparently due to the development of numerous 

 adventitious buds. 



Scientific Committee, December 16, 1913. 



Mr. E. A. Bowles, M.A., F.L.S., F.E.S., in the Chair, and two members 



present. 



Growth on bulb. — Mr. W. C. Worsdell reported that the growth 

 on the SciUa bulb shown at the last meeting was due to irritation set 

 up probably by a mite, and was similar in its nature to that seen in 

 the Verbascum he had shown at a previous meeting, though different 

 in origin. 



Polatos diseased. — Mr. Chittenden reported that the potatos 

 sent by Dr. Voelcker from Woburn and by Mr. Odell from Hampshire 

 were typical of a considerable number received at the Laboratory this 

 season. Mr. Home had made cultivations from them and found the 



