SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE, JUNE 23. 



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Malformed Odontoglossums. — Mr. Worsdell, F.L.S., reported that one 

 of the flowers of Odontoglossum crispum received from G. Wilson, Esq., 

 F.R.H.S., of Haywards Heath, had the three stamens of the outer whorl 

 all developed, instead of only one as is usual. The second flower had a 

 normal column and normal sepals, but each of the three petals had 

 become partly modified into stamens and bore anthers. 



Dodder. — Mr. Giissow showed photographs of Cuscuta Trifolii attack- 

 ing Clover and Kchl-rabi, and of C. chilensis growing upon Lucerne, 

 Kohl-rabi, Rye-grass, and red and white Clover. Dr. Voelcker said that 

 experiments had been tried with Chilian Clover seed containing Dodder, 

 and it had been found that though the Dodder had germinated and 

 grown upon the Clover in the first year, in the second none had been 

 found, as it had failed to form seed. Mr. Giissow, however, thought that 

 seed was produced at least under certain circumstances. 



Lily hybrids. — Mr. Scrase-Dickins, F.R.H.S., showed seedlings of 

 Lilium croceum x L. elegans and L. van Houttei. The plants showed 

 extraordinary vigour, which the raiser attributed partly to the fact that 

 they were seedlings, and partly to their hybrid origin. The hybrids do 

 not set seed when pollinated with one another's pollen, but set seed freely 

 when pollinated with pollen from L. elegans. The forms varied con- 

 siderably among themselves, and forms of L. dahuricum could be well 

 matched among them. The L. elegans parentage was evident in many 

 by the reflexing of the perianth pieces. Unfortunately the hybrids are 

 not disease-resisting. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. 

 Scrase-Dickins. 



Effect of ammonium salts on flora. — Dr. Voelcker showed a fern 

 which had developed under curious circumstances. A series of drain 

 pipes filled with soil and each covered at the base with a perforated slate, 

 below which a glass funnel had been fixed in order to catch the drainage 

 water, had been kept for two years, during which time through some 

 ammonium sulphate had been passed, through others ammonium 

 chloride, others, nitrate of soda, and others, distilled water. The ferns 

 had grown through the perforation of the slate into the funnel (which 

 was exposed to light), only in those cases where ammonium salts had been 

 passed through the soil. This was apparently due to a difference in the 

 reaction of the soil in the different cases. It had been noted that con- 

 tinued manuring of the soil with ammonium salts finally resulted in a 

 sterile condition, and before that the appearance of certain algae upon the 

 soil different from those found under other circumstances. This sterility 

 can be overcome by the addition of lime to the soil, and in cases where 

 only a small bulk of soil is in use, by stirring the soil up with distilled 

 water and allowing it to settle. 



Phlox leaves malformed. — Mr. Worsdell, F.L.S., drew attention to 

 the peculiar form at times assumed by the leaves of Phlox. Sometimes 

 the leaves appeared as ascidia or as pockets, or merely as wings on the 

 midrib. This condition, Mr. Massee, V.M H., pointed out, was due to 

 the presence of the eelworm Tylenchus devastatrix, large numbers of 

 which were present in the plants. This and other species of eelworm 

 were responsible for many malformations in plants, as is seen in the 

 Tulip-rooted Oat, the thickened neck of the Onion, malformed flowers in 



