SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE, FEBRUARY 10. xxiii 



being hastened by the use of lime. As it would be at least inconvenient 

 to cease growing ' greens ' for such an extended period the following 

 plan might be adopted. As much quicklime as is compatible with healthy 

 growth of Turnips, Sprouts, &c. should be intimately mixed with the soil 

 to the depth of six inches to eight inches. Just now (the end of January) 

 is the time for this, as the germs will soon begin to be on the run. If 

 gaslime is used, a layer about one inch thick, sprinkled on the surface, 

 should remain for four weeks, and then be pointed into the upper six 

 inches of soil. No planting should be attempted until after the gaslime 

 has been on the soil for at least six weeks. The great bulk of plants are 

 inoculated when quite seedlings, and those that escape for the first six 

 weeks of their existence do not, as a rule, become diseased when planted 

 in infected soil." Mr. Baker added some interesting remarks upon his 

 experience. He said that a badly infected soil should have all cruciferous 

 plants rigidly excluded for four years ; and Shepherd's Purse, which is 

 very liable to be attacked, should be entirely weeded out. The fungus 

 could not cross a narrow path, but could easily be transmitted by garden 

 implements or by the boots of the workmen. Superphosphates were 

 rather favourable to the growth of the fungus, whereas basic slag was less 

 so. Mr. Worsley had found gaslime to have been quite effective. Mr. 

 Wilks recounted how, having suffered very severely in 1901, he had put on 

 a layer of gaslime four inches thick in December and left it till the middle 

 of February, when it was forked in, and Cabbages planted on the land 

 afterwards were as badly affected as ever. 



Ismene calathina, Bulb germinating. — Mr. Worsley observed that in 

 the germination of the seeds of this plant, before any leaf-growth takes 

 place, it forms a bulb and continually loses moisture, so that its weight 

 diminishes from that of the seed to the extent of seventy-five per cent. ; 

 so that while ten seeds weigh one ounce it requires forty-four of the 

 small bulblets to weigh that amount. Besides the loss of water, it is 

 known that all seeds lose weight in other ways. 



Scientific Committee, February 10, 1903. 

 Dr. M. T. Masters, F.R.S., in the Chair, and fourteen members present. 



Soil with Mycelium. — k sample sent by Mrs. Gamwell proved to be 

 " thoroughly permeated with the white mycelium threads of some 

 fungus," but Dr. Cooke added that " it is impossible to say what its 

 future development might be. It is certainly destructive to vegetation of 

 any kind." 



Gelatinous Substances. — Dr. Cooke reported that "the nostoc-like 

 substances sent by Mr. Bird exhibited no organic structure whatever 

 affording any clue to its origin." 



Eelworms.—lh. D. A. Voss, South Norwood, sent the following com- 

 munication :— " Twelve houses, each 200 feet by 20 feet, used for growing 

 Cucumbers and Tomatos, have become infested with eelworm. The soil 

 to the depth of 3 feet has been removed already from several of these, 

 and in one or two the surface left exposed thereby has been dressed 



