SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE, MAY 20. 



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subvariety in this country, despite its having been certainly assiduously 

 hunted for half a century. In this case the pinnae are foliosely multifid 

 throughout. 



Tulipa sylvestris. — Mr Chapman sent the following communication : 

 " I notice that Mr. Worsley showed the above Tulip on April 22. Having 

 several of the species in flower in the borders here, I mentioned the 

 matter to Mr. Cookson (of Oakwood, Wylam-on-Tyne), and have ascer- 

 tained the following particulars from him, which I thought might perhaps 

 be of interest. The plants we have here were collected and brought by 

 Mr. Cookson from a friend's wood, about eleven miles north of Newcastle- 

 on-Tyne. Although they must have been growing in this particular spot 

 for ages, Mr. Cookson was the first to notice the Tulip characteristics about 

 the apparent " weed." I use the word "weed," for, from what Mr. Cookson 

 tells me, they grow in hundreds of thousands, scarcely ever exceeding 

 3 inches in height, and never flowering where growing in the wild state. 

 After collecting the plants, they were planted in the borders. It took 

 three years before they produced flowers, when their identity was 

 established. Since then, where the plants have not been moved, it is 

 interesting to note that, in almost every instance, twin flower-scapes are 

 produced, as in the enclosed specimen. It may also be of interest to note 

 that it has a peculiar character of forming a long rhizome between each 

 bulb, giving it such a roving nature in cultivated ground that although 

 planted in a bed or patch it will be found the following year at a very 

 different position from where it was planted. I notice S.W. Yorks being 

 the furthest north given in the report ; it might be interesting to know that 

 it can be still found as a wild plant in Northumberland." 



Scientific Committee, May 20, 1902. 



Dr. M. C. Cooke in the Chair, with fourteen members present, and 

 Professor Percival, Agricultural College, Wye, visitor. 



Beech and Bose diseased. — Mr. Saunders reported as follows upon 

 the specimens sent to the last meeting : — " As to the scale insects from 

 Mr. Gregory, they are Cryptococcus fagi. The scale on the Rose is 

 probably Aspidiotus ostreceformis — I say probably, because there is another 

 species so closely resembling it that without boiling the little insect from 

 under the scale in liquor potassce, staining, and otherwise preparing it for 

 examination under the microscope, so that certain parts of its anatomy 

 can be clearly seen, it is impossible to be quite certain. The Aspidiotus 

 and Cryptococcus, though both belonging to the same family, the Goccidce, 

 are very different insects, the former being a true scale insect, the other 

 being nearly allied to the mealy bugs. I should recommend that all the 

 shoots of the Rose that are attacked should be cut off and burnt, and the 

 rest dressed or sprayed with paraffin emulsion. The Beech bark should 

 be scrubbed with the same preparation, or with \ lb. of soft soap dissolved 

 in a gallon of water. It is best to boil the soft soap in a quart of water 

 before adding it to the rest of the water." 



Melon Leaves, decayed. — Mr. Purnell Purnell brought Melon leaves, 

 and wished to know what the disease was they were suffering from, and 



