clxvi PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



leaves of Turnip, and, singularly enough, on the fruit of cultivated 

 Strawberries. In the latter case it is destructive, without there being 

 any safe remedy. The conidia are formed from joints of the erect 

 threads, as in Oidium Tuckeri, but are very characteristic, being 

 truncate at the ends and barrel- shaped. The only remedy is powdered 

 sulphur." 



Gooseberry disease. — Dr. Cooke reported upon specimens sent by Mr. 

 Rogers of Launceston : " It is apparently not Spharotheca mors uvce, 

 but another Gooseberry parasite, not quite so bad, viz. Microsphcera 

 grossularice. The conidia are very similar. Treatment is the same, viz. 

 powdered sulphur (flowers of sulphur)." 



Strawberry with Slime fungus. — Dr. Cooke reported upon Straw- 

 berries sent by Miss A. Williams of Ty-Mawr, Brecon : " The Strawberry 

 plants are in no way diseased. The curious grey organism, about the 

 size of a Strawberry, is a cluster of the common and well-known slime 

 fungus, or Myxogaster, called Spumaria alba. It has been found on 

 grass, leaves, twigs, and all manner of substances indiscriminately, and 

 is entirely independent of the matrix upon which it is developed. It is 

 strange that it should have been seen in three or four instances on parts 

 of Strawberry plants, and possibly, if sought after, it would be found in 

 the same neighbourhood on quite different substances. Not being a 

 disease, but merely an accidental interloper, there is nothing to be said 

 about a remedy. If it should become a nuisance in the locality, that 

 must be disinfected, and probably lime would effect this most satis- 

 factorily." 



Mammillaria attacked by Cuscuta. — Prof. Boulger reported upon 

 a specimen sent by Mr. J. Evans of Matlock Bath : " Having examined 

 the seedling plant of Mammillaria potosiana, with the kind assistance of 

 Dr. Hendle, the structure proves to be undoubtedly a Cttscuta, which has 

 penetrated and spread from one to the other of all the individuals 

 present. Haustoria were clearly visible, but in the absence of any 

 flower it was not possible to determine the species. It may, very 

 1 probably, be a British one introduced with the soil used in potting ; but 

 Mrs. Boulger informs me that the hedgerow Cacti in the environs of 

 Monte Video were commonly entangled together by a mass of red thread- 

 like stems." 



Ceropcgia, species of. — Mr. Odell showed blossoms of G. stapclice- 

 formis, C. Sandersoni, and C. Woodii, and called attention to the freely 

 oscillating hairs on the margins of the corolla. This is due to the hair 

 being club-shaped, but terminating below in a fine point by which it is 

 attached. 



Aloysia with alternate leaves.— Mv. Odell also exhibited a stem in 

 which the usual whorls of three leaves were replaced by alternate leaves. 

 Prof. Henslow, V.M.H., observed that when this was the case, as on 

 the Jerusalem Artichoke, it usually gave rise to the spiral represented by 

 f , of the series ^, J, f , &c. 



Pollination in (JrcJiards. — The following communication was received 

 from Mr. Chittenden, of the County Laboratories, Chelmsford : — " The 

 experiments commenced last year (see Joubn. H.H.S. xxvii. p. cxc) in order 

 to discover which varieties of Apple and which of Pear are self-fertile, i.e. 



