SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE, MARCH 10. 



XXIX 



and kind of work to be undertaken, and generally to afford any assistance 

 in their power towards the carrying out of this proposal. 



The subjects brought under the notice of the Committee at their 

 meetings afford very numerous suggestions as to the kind of work which 

 might be done at Chiswick. The following may be mentioned by way 

 of illustration : — 



(i.) The employment of the electric light for forcing purposes. 



(ii.) The use of ether in hastening the development of flowers. 



(iii.) The use of hydrocyanic acid vapour for the destruction of the 

 Currant-bud mite. 



(iv.) Experiments on the use of insecticides and fungicides, as, for 

 instance, in the diseases of Tomatos and Cucumbers, wherein there is 

 great present need for a cheap, easily prepared, non-poisonous substance 

 fatal to eelworm and fungi in the soil, but which might be used 

 without injury to the growing plants. The discovery of such a remedy 

 would obviate a pecuniary loss that may now be reckoned as extremely 

 large. 



(v.) The discovery or the raising of particular varieties which may be 

 proved to be more or less immune to the attacks of insects and fungi. 



(vi.) Investigations into the nature and cause of canker in Apple and 

 other fruit trees. 



(vii.) Investigations as to the circumstances favourable or otherwise to 

 the spread of epidemic diseases, such as the Cercospora of the Cucumber 

 and the Melon. 



(viii.) The supposed action of aphides, thrip, mites, and other creatures 

 in spreading disease by alternately feeding on healthy and on diseased 

 plants. 



(ix.) Experiments with various manures on the growth of plants, 

 especially with the view cf ascertaining the special effects at particular 

 stages of growth. 



(x.) Special trials of all absolute novelties, whether of flower, fruit, or 

 vegetable, apart from mere trifling variations of those already well 

 known. 



(xi.) Experiments on the influence of an increase of the carbonic acid 

 of the air on the growth of plants. 



Larch Trees. — Mr. Elwes, F.R.S., observed that one subject especially 

 which might be investigated at Chiswick, as being most important for 

 forestry, was the diseases of Larches. It was said that the spores of 

 Pezzia enter the wounds made by Cliermes, and that it appeared some 

 trees are more or less able to resist the Chermes. Hence, if such a race 

 could be established, it would greatly assist cultivators, who might be 

 able to grow valuable trees of this kind. 



Assimilation. — Dr. Horace Brown, F.R.S., alluded to expariments at 

 Kew in which he had investigated the results of increasing the amount 

 of carbon dioxide in the air. The assimilation was doubled by an 

 increase of pressure. Further experiments, he thought, might prove to 

 be of great practical value. 



Pelargonium Disease. — Dr. Cooke reported upon leaves sent by the 

 Ven. Archdeacon Meredith, Tibberton, Newport, Salop : — " Two leaves of 

 Pelargonium submitted were spotted indistinctly, and in one instance 



