XXX PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



to satisfy myself as to the cause of the injury. Our mycologists assure us 

 that they are not caused by fungi. As there is so much mystery about as 

 to the cause of these holes, it would be very desirable if some experiments 

 could be made in order to try to throw some light on the subject. The 

 holes being of such different sizes make one think that they probably 

 increase in size. If they do, this would certainly be against the theory 

 of their being caused by insect agency. If someone who has access to 

 plants attacked in this way would make some observations on this point 

 it would help in the elucidation of the mystery." 



Malformed Carnation. — Mr. Saunders also reported that the carnation 

 shoots from Stuckly Castle had been examined by him, but no trace of 

 insect, mite, eelworm, or fungus could be discovered in them. Perhaps if 

 the entire plant was examined something might be found. 



Diseased Violets. — Mr. Massee, V.M.H., reported that the violets sent 

 to the last meeting were attacked by the fungus Phyllosticta Violae. 

 " This and the disease due to Cercospora Violae are indistinguishable in 

 their mode of attack, and can only be identified under the microscope. 

 The primary cause of both diseases is excess of moisture and lack of 

 proper ventilation during cultivation." 



Diseased Tulips. — Mr. Massee also reported that the diseased tulips 

 were attacked by the fungus Botrytis parasitica. The disease had 

 appeared when ventilation was deficient, plants growing in similar soil 

 in, the open not being attacked. 



Gall on Oak. — Mr. Holmes, F.L.S., showed a gall from the common 

 oak which Mr. Saunders reported to be formed by the grubs of one of the 

 hymenopterous gallflies, probably by Aphilotrix Globuli, one of the gall- 

 flies with alternating generations ; these galls would produce Andricus 

 inflator, whose grubs would form green globular galls surrounded at 

 their base by the scales of the buds. Aphilotrix Globuli is the sexual 

 generation. 



Curious Sivelling on Stem. — Thos. Sharp, Esq., F.R.H.S., of West- 

 bury, Wilts, sent a stem of sloe (?) having at its upper end a curious 

 knob -like swelling, about 3^ inches in length and over 2 inches in 

 diameter, marked very similarly to 'bird's-eye maple.' This was 

 evidently formed as the result of a wound, the healing tissue having 

 given rise to a large number of adventitious buds, the small shoots 

 from which had disappeared. 



Cotyledon macrantha. — Dr. Masters reported that he had examined 

 this plant shown at the last meeting, and found that it had been described 

 and figured some time since, and showed no remarkable deviations from 

 other plants of its genus. The proposal to award it a botanical certificate 

 therefore fell through. 



Thibaudia sp. — A remarkable shrub with large red tubular flowers 

 was shown by Mr. J. T. Bennett-Poe, which appeared to be a hitherto 

 undescribed species of Thibaudia. Its native home was not known, as 

 the plant had been found by Mr. Poo in the greenhouse, and there was 

 no record of its original source. The question of awarding it a botanical 

 certificate was deferred until the plant should be named. 



Malformed Cyclamen. — Mr. Worsdell, F.L.S., reported that he had 

 examined the cyclamen shown at the last meeting, and had found small 



