cxvi PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



" Zephyr shade. — (1) Breaks into 1 Zephyr ' and pale pink only. 

 (2) Breeds true (specimens exhibited). 



" Pale blue. — (1) ? throws ' Zephyr ' (no case yet met with). 

 (2) Breeds true (specimens exhibited). 



"The ' Spencer,' the ' Unwin,' and the flat standard types all behave 

 in the same fashion, and what evidence has been obtained at present shows 

 that the corresponding flaked colours give the same results. A few of 

 the flaked types were exhibited for comparison with the whole colours. 

 It should be noted that flaking is not visible in either parent. When it 

 appears it has always acted as a simple recessive to the corresponding 

 whole colour. Thus a deep purple flake might split into purple, blue, 

 and pink types, but each would be flaked and no self colours would occur. 



" It is rather a curious fact that whilst a long series of pinks, orange, 

 white and yellow shades are known in a fixed condition, no waved blues 

 have yet appeared in commerce with the exceptions of 1 Mrs. C. Foster.' 

 This latter is heterozygous, and may be left out of account. It would 

 seem to point to the fact that the 1 Spencer ' forms are not so readily 

 cross-fertilised by bees as is generally stated. If they were so we might 

 fairly expect that the blue shades would be as well, or, knowing the 

 partiality of bees for blue flowers, better represented than the pinks." 



Scientific Committee, August 4, 1908. 



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



present. 



" Black-eye " of Carnations, dx. — Mr. Massee, V.M.H., showed flowers 

 of various species of Dianthus, including Carnations, affected by the 

 fungus Ustilago violacea, which develops its spores in the anthers of 

 different species of Caryophyllaceae. The fungus is common on wild 

 plants belonging to the order, but is less common on cultivated plants. 

 The mycelium is perennial in the tissues of its host, and therefore it is 

 useless to attempt a cure ; affected plants are best destroyed. The host 

 plants can only be attacked when in the seedling stage or in the young 

 shoots, and nothing can be seen of the fungal attack until the fruiting 

 stage is reached in the anthers of the host. It is then known by the 

 blackish dusty mass of spores in the centre of the flower. 



An uncommon fungus. — Mr. Holmes, F.L.S., showed numerous 

 specimens of the curious saprophytic fungus Geastcr Bryantii, which had 

 occurred in a dry border recently manured with farmyard manure in his 

 garden at Sevenoaks. 



Listrostachys forcipata. — Mr. Douglas, V.M.H., showed a plant of 

 this rare and beautiful little Orchid, bearing several of its curious delicate 

 white flowers, the perianth of which is apparently but one cell in thick- 

 ness. The plant is a native of dense forests in Buea, Cameroons, at an 

 elevation of 4,200 feet (see Kriinzl in Engl. Jahrb. xix. 254 ; and Rolfe in 

 /•'/. Trop. Afr. vii. p. 168). A Botanical Certificate was unanimously 

 recommended for this plant. 



" Wheat-car" Lychnis alba, etc. —Mr. Fraser, F.L.S., showed speci- 

 mens of this plant, having the bracts usually below the flower repeated 



