SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE, JULY 21. 



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will produce fruit with the aid of their own pollen alone, and which are 

 self-sterile, i.e. will not produce fruit without the aid of other than their 

 own pollen, were continued during the present season. 



" The following varieties of Pear were experimented with : — ' Bellissinie 

 d'Hiver,' 'Beurre d'Arnanlis,' ' Beurre Superfin,' ' Catillac,' 'Conference,' 

 ' Durondeau,' 'Easter Beurre,' ' Eraile d'Heyst,' 'Louise Bonne of 

 Jersey,' ' Pitmaston Duchess,' and 'William's Bon Chretien.' Of these 

 ' Conference ' and ' Durondeau ' set fruit abundantly, confirming the 

 positive results obtained with these varieties last year, and proving 

 beyond doubt their self -fertility ; ' Bellissime d'Hiver ' and ' Pitmaston,' 

 neither of which set fruit last year, each this season set one out of 

 eighteen and twelve flowers respectively, showing the possibility of the 

 self-fertility of these two varieties ; none of the other seven varieties set 

 fruit at all with their own pollen. 



" The varieties of App]e tested were ' Beauty of Kent,' ' Bismarck,' 

 ' Bramley's Seedling,' ' Cellini,' ' Claygate Pearmain,' ' Cox's Orange,' 

 'Dumelow's Seedling,' ' Ecklinville,' 'Gladstone,' 'King of the Pippins,' 

 'Lane's Prince Albert,' 'Lord Derby,' 'Lady Sudely,' ' Mannington 

 Pearmain,' ' Newton Wonder,' ' Northern Greening,' 'Peasgood's Nonsuch,' 

 'Royal Jubilee,' ' Sandringham,' 'Schoolmaster,' 'Stirling Castle,' 

 ' Sturmer Pippin,' and ' Worcester Pearmain.' The two varieties which 

 last year set fruit under conditions precluding the entrance of foreign 

 pollen were ' Gladstone ' and ' Stirling Castle,' and each of these again 

 set fruit under similar conditions, thus confirming last year's result. Of 

 the other varieties which did not set fruit last year ' Lord Derby ' and 

 ' Schoolmaster ' gave positive results, all the other varieties producing no 

 fruit under these conditions, while of the varieties tried this year for 

 the first time, ' Bismarck/ ' Bramley's Seedling,' ' Dumelow's Seedling,' 

 'Ecklinville,' 'King of the Pippins,' 'Lane's Prince Albert,' 'Newton 

 Wonder,' 'Peasgood's Nonsuch,' 'Royal Jubilee,' and 'Worcester 

 Pearmain,' only ' King of the Pippins ' set fruit with its own pollen only. 

 The Pear flowers were bagged on March 31 and April 2, and the Apple 

 flowers on May 7 and 13. This will give the dates when the flowers were 

 about ready to open. Manilla paper bags were used, not muslin, as I 

 think these ensure greater protection and cut off very little more light — 

 quite sufficient is allowed to pass through for the proper development of 

 chlorophyll." 



Carnation roots. — Samples were sent by Mrs. Duncombe of North 

 Drighton Manor, Wetherby, who described the plants as " growing in a 

 newly made bed, entirely outside ; and the same affection has occurred 

 for many years. The soil is dry, in a high and walled garden." 



Mr. James Douglas, V.M.H., reported : " There is no disease on the 

 Carnations sent. The roots have died from some cause, but it is not 

 possible to say what it is without being on the spot. The same result 

 ensues from too little or too much water. It occurs on pot-plants when 

 watering has been neglected, and a rush of water subsequently given will 

 kill the roots. There are also some varieties so degenerated or debilitated 

 in constitution that the effort to produce flowers is too much for them, 

 and they get into the state of those sent. I would advise procuring some 

 vigorous-growing varieties, or a new stock. Mortar rubbish in the soil is 



