lii PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



plant at all like the parents. The Committee would be glad to hear of 

 any similar cases. The physiological interpretation would seem to be 

 that, from constant indiscriminate crosses, Cabbages, Turnips, &c, have a 

 very mixed constitution. As long as any variety is grown in masses, the 

 crossing keeps up an average form. When isolated, reversion to the 

 various races takes place, the " blood " of which is in the individual. Mr. 

 Sutton suggested experiments to be carried out at Kew or Chiswick to 

 test these remarkable results. 



Gooseberry Trees dying off. — Rev. W. Wilks showed branches wither- 

 ing and dying. Mr. Yeitch observed that it was not uncommon after an 

 excessively dry season like the last, and that some varieties are more 

 liable to perish than others, the more vigorous ones withstanding it. 



Primroses malformed. — Mr. Sutton brought specimens of umbellate, 

 or, more strictly speaking, " capitate " forms, the flowers being sessile on 

 the top of a peduncle. There were four flowers with linear bracts. The 

 central flower was multifold, with seven or eight petals, &c. ; the other 

 flowers were either normal or with a sub-petaloid calyx. The petal lobes 

 in some forms were unequal. They were from a wood near Reading. 

 He also brought from the same wood double-flowered wild Anemones. 

 The late Rev. Prof. J. S. Henslow collected similar double forms in 

 Hitcham Wood, Suffolk, in 1845. 



Tacca cristata. — Mr. Odell sent flowers of this anomalous plant, 

 having one of the numerous filiform bracts broadening at the base, thus 

 reverting towards the form of the larger outer series. The question as to 

 the function of the filiform appendages was raised, for they are suggestive 

 of some similar use to those in certain Cypripcdiece, 



Gloxinia, Floivers with Excrescences from the Outer Surface. — Mr. 

 Odell also sent blossoms with this well-known peculiarity, the special 

 feature being the fact that their abnormal character was now very constant 

 for four years on the same plant. 



Palm diseased. — Mr. Saunders reports as follows upon the Palm sub- 

 mitted to him at the last meeting : — " I have carefully examined the 

 small Palm (Kentia) which I took away for that purpose. I forget the 

 name of the grower, but we had some before us on March 11, which were 

 reported on by Mr. Odell. At the roots of the Palm I found several 

 specimens of snake millipedes (Julus guttatus and J. londinensis) ; of 

 the latter I only found one specimen. These are well-known and most de- 

 structive pests. The only way of getting rid of them, short of repotting 

 the plants and picking out the pests, is to bury small slices of Turnip, 

 Carrot, or Potato in the soil just below the surface. The millipedes are 

 very fond of these roots, and will probably be attracted to them. The 

 traps should be examined every morning. If a small skewer of wood be 

 stuck into each slice, it will show where the latter has been buried and 

 render it easier to handle." 



Lastrea (Nephrodium) Thelypteris, Marsh Buckler Fern. — Mr. 

 Druery exhibited fronds of a very fine and thoroughly pulydactylous 

 variety of this species, found by Mrs. Puffer in Massachusetts, U.S.A. — a 

 clump of 8 feet by 2 feet or 3 feet wide — a very old plant. It is the more 

 interesting, as, although this species is indigenous to Great Britain, and is 

 locally abundant in many marshy districts, it has never even afforded a 



