SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE, JULY 8. 



CXXXV 



SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE. 



July 8, 1902. 



Dr. M. T. Masters, F.R.S., in the Chair, and ten members present. 



Clubbing and Gas-lime.— Rev. W. Wilks described his experience 

 with gas-lime as a remedy, without success. A dressing of three inches 

 in depth was put on in November last, and dug in in February. Cabbages 

 were planted in March and grew well at first, but proved to be very 

 badly affected afterwards. Mr. Saunders undertook to examine the roots. 



Digitalis, malformed. — Mr. Holmes exhibited a spike in which the 

 corollas were split and the segments antheriferous. A similar mon- 

 strosity was described by Professor Henslow in Journ. Linn. Soc. vol. xix. 

 p. 216. 



Apple-leaf Blister.— In answer to Mr. A. F. Getting's inquiry Dr. 

 M. C. Cooke, M.A., V.M.H., replied : — " Still as great a mystery as ever. 

 The leaves do not exhibit anything abnormal in structure, except that on 

 some of the decayed spots there are tufts of unusual obtuse, jointed, hyaline 

 hairs. This growth seems to have been stimulated by the disease, whatever 

 it is. There is no trace of fungus growth anywhere, but I found several 

 nematode worms, which possibly followed decay, as they were found on 

 the dead spots. Whether the abnormal tufts of hairs are the representa- 

 tives of the very rare Erineum pyrinum I cannot say, but I should think 

 not, as those are described as of a bay colour, and these are colourless, 

 and septate, while those are without septa. The Erineum was at one 

 time thought to be a fungus, but now the species are recognised as 

 excrescences formed by minute insects or Phytopti. There are several 

 species or kinds found on various trees, but Erineum pyrinum was sup- 

 posed to be confined to the leaves of the Apple." 



As an additional note to the foregoing, Dr. Cooke added " that in 

 Dr. R. K. Greville's ' Monograph of the Genus Erineum ' {Edinburgh 

 Philosophical Journal) he writes that ' one described species is wanting 

 to complete this short monograph, but from its excessive rarity I have not 

 been able to procure a specimen. It is Erineum pyrinum, Pers. Disp. Fung. 

 p. 43, t. 4, f . 2. E. oblonjum laxum spadiceum is the only character given 

 in his Synopsis. Albertini and Schweinitz add to the above distinction : 

 Planum nee congestum, fila laxa conges ta ; and conclude with Rarissimum, 

 item unica solum vice inventum in pomario domestico ad folia Pyri Mali, 

 eremite Junio. Unfortunately, I can add nothing to this extract, or give any 

 further information about Erineum pyrinum. Perhaps some expert, 

 acquainted with the habits of the Phytopti, might decide whether 

 these tufted excrescences resembling hairs, which give a glaucous bloom 

 to the under surface of the dead spots of these apple-leaves, are associated 

 at all with Phytopti." 



Beech with Aphis. — Mr. White, of The Lodge, Wateringbury, Kent, 



F F 2 



