1 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



abundantly in two valleys in Malta. Its distribution is from Holland 

 southwards, so that in Somersetshire it may be a member of the British 

 Mediterranean group. Mr. Worsley also showed specimens of Bidens 

 dclphinifolia with small yellow flowers, a Mexican annual, and also 

 Marica ccerulea from Eastern Brazil. It has a bell-shaped flower with no 

 tube, and belongs to Iridece. One species occurs in W. tropical Africa, 

 the other eight in Eastern Brazil, indicating a probable former connection 

 between the two continents. 



Cephalotaxus, fruiting. — Rev. W. Wilks showed a bough, with fruit 

 not usually seen in fruit in this country. 



Pceony and the Swift Moth. — Mr. Holmes showed specimens of the 

 stems injured. It is a plant not usually attacked by the caterpillar of this 

 moth. 



Nodules on Roots of Robinia, dc. — Mr. Rogers, Hexworthy, Laun- 

 ceston, Cornwall, sent some roots of Robinia, showing microbe-bearing 

 tubercles which were terminal and globular, about one-eighth of an inch 

 in diameter. They are also remarkably large on the roots of Laburnum, 

 forming coral -like masses sometimes as large as a pigeon's egg. 



Peach Blossoms. — Mr. G. A. Bunyard sent some blossoms of small- 

 flowered varieties of Peach and Nectarine, illustrating a considerable 

 difference in the degrees of protogeny. In some the pistil protruded to a 

 great distance, the chance of self-fertilisation being very slight. In others 

 it was much shorter. In all cases the stamens were inarching, so that 

 self-fertilisation was easily secured. In a double-flowered variety there 

 was a similar difference, so that they might be almost called " short- 

 styled " and "long-styled," but always protogenous. Mr. Bunyard 

 observes that in the large-flowered varieties the style is too long for the 

 flower-bud, so that it is bent round. This is a common result in many 

 self-fertilising flowers, as in Salvia Verbenaca, Lamium amplexicaule, &c, 

 and it may be possibly so in this case ; but it appears that the small- 

 flowered varieties are the most prolific, hence insect agency perhaps comes 

 into play. Neither the bitter nor sweet Almond has a protruding style. 

 Our wild species of Prunus, as the Sloe and Bird Cherry, are all proto- 

 genous, the cause probably being the cold temperature of early spring. 

 He also sent flowers of ' Tibbett's Pearmain ' Apple, having unusually long 

 styles. It is protogenous, and a scanty bearer. 



Turnip Varieties. — The following interesting communication was 

 received from Mr. Gould, of Sleaford : — " We have occasionally planted a 

 single extra good stock-root to produce seed, and almost in every case the 

 produce is mixed. When there are fifteen or twenty of the same type 

 put in together the produce is always satisfactory. For instance, one 

 perfect 1 Enfield Market ' Cabbage as a result gave us almost every variety 

 of Borecole, garden and cattle Cabbage, Savoy, and Sprouts. One 

 1 Altrincham ' Carrot gave a number of white roots. One root of Mangold, 

 in four instances in four different seasons, produced a mixed crop of roots. 

 And we have a very curious instance this year : In a 20-acre field of 

 ' Giant Bronzetop ' Swede we found one root of 1 Red Tankard ' Turnip, 

 the finest we ever saw. It was planted in a private garden miles from 

 any Turnip or Swede seed, was covered with muslin to prevent any chance 

 of inoculation, and the produce is wonderful. There are a few 1 Short 



