SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE, SEPTEMBER 23. 



cxci 



1 Williams's Bon Chretien,' ' Olivier de Serres.' Of these only two, 

 1 Conference ' and 1 Durondeau,' set fruit under such conditions that 

 foreign pollen (i.e. pollen of some other var.) was unable to obtain access 

 to the stigmas — in other words, only those two varieties proved self- 

 fertile. 



So far the evidence is positive ; the evidence with regard to the other 

 thirteen varieties is not conclusive, the weather prevailing at the time 

 possibly interfering with the setting of the fruit. Negative evidence can 

 only be accepted in such cases after a long series of experiments extend- 

 ing over several years with varying climatic conditions. In some cases, 

 although the trees flowered very well, and were growing close to other 

 varieties, only one or two fruits were set, showing that weather conditions 

 interfered greatly with the production of fruit. 



Thirteen varieties of Apples were experimented on — ' Beauty of Kent,' 

 'Cellini,' 'Cox's Orange,' 'Claygate Pearmain,' 'Gladstone,' 'Lord Derby,' 

 'Lady Sudeley,' ' Mannington Pearmain,' 'Northern Greening,' 'School- 

 master,' ' Stirling Castle,' ' Sandringham,' ' Sturmer Pippin ' — and again 

 only two varieties set fruit under conditions precluding the entrance of 

 foreign pollen — ' Gladstone ' and ' Stirling Castle.' Of course, here again, 

 the negative evidence does not conclusively prove that the remaining 

 eleven varieties are self -sterile. 



The weather prevailing at the time, high winds and wet, prevented 

 any cross pollination experiments being carried out with accuracy ; but 

 it. is worth noting that, although the Pear-blossoms are, as a rule at 

 least, proterogynous, yet it frequently happens that one or two of the 

 anthers have shed their pollen before the bud opens ; this fact points to 

 the necessity for special care in the choice of flowers for cross pollination. 



China Asters. — Specimens of these plants, showing the symptoms so 

 commonly met with, were referred to Dr. Cooke for report, the supposi- 

 tion being that the condition was due to the Aster- worm, described and 

 figured in Vol. xxv. p. clxxiii. 



Spot in Grapes. — From Derby came specimens of Muscats affected 

 with this fungus, now too commonly met with. It is due to a species of 

 Glozosporium, described and figured in the Gardeners' Chronicle on 

 December 6, 1890, and in Viala's work on diseases of the Vine. De- 

 struction by fire of the affected berries, so far as possible, and the use of 

 a fungicide spray next season, are the only remedies that can be sug- 

 gested. 



Distorted Apples. — Some distorted fruits were shown, whose small 

 size and crippled appearance were attributed to imperfect fertilisation and 

 a check to growth. 



Carinas. — Some specimens from Rougham Hall were exhibited, in 

 which the leaves had failed to expand properly. This was supposed to 

 be due to some arrest of growth, the reason for which could not be ascer- 

 tained without knowing all the circumstances under which the plants 

 were grown. 



Canada Rice. — Mr. Douglas, V.M.H., showed a specimen of this 

 annual Canadian grass, whose seeds are used as an article of food. A 

 fine clump may be seen at Kew ; experimental plots of it have also been 

 planted in some of the Norfolk Broads. 



