SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE, JULY 27. 



CXV 



pronounced it to be most probably Fusicladium dentriticum, 

 which attacks Apples and Pears, causing them to crack. Mr. 

 Veitch observed that it generally occurs when the tree is in a 

 poor condition, and recommended a renewal of soil in the 

 autumn to strengthen the growth. 



Wheat-eared Carnations. — Some examples of this well-known 

 peculiarity were received from Mr. Colvile Browne, of Hextable, 

 Kent. Mr. Veitch observed that whenever carnations were 

 grown in large quantities for market, some plants appear among 

 them with this malformation. Dr. Masters added that it was 

 said that the immediate cause was the attack by mites at the 

 apex. 



Twin Apple Leaf. — Mr. Browne also sent a specimen in 

 which two leaves were apparently united half-way up, and back 

 to back. An examination of the distribution of the fibro- 

 vascular cords showed that there was only one petiole, a section 

 of which was crescent -shaped, with three or four cords on each 

 half. These coalesced higher up into two distinct bands, from 

 which the cords supplied to each of the twin blades arose. It 

 was analogous to a foliaceous stamen of Jatropha, described by 

 Dr. Masters {Teratology, p. 255). 



Lantana attacked by Insects. — Specimens were received 

 from Chiswick covered with a white mealy-bug known as 

 Orthezia insignis, Douglas. 



Seeds germinating ivithin a Melon. — A specimen was 

 received in which this peculiarity had occurred. It is not 

 infrequent in Cucumbers, Oranges, and the Papaw. It was 

 observed that the cotyledons were green, though in the absence 

 of light within the fruit. Such occurs also in Pistachio Nuts, 

 Mistletoe, pods of Cassia fistula, &c. Professor Church remarked 

 that it probably arose from some modification of the rays of 

 light, which were capable of " greening," although their energy 

 was altered in character. It is observable that plants turn 

 green under all the coloured rays of the spectrum, though 

 Ferns will be green in total darkness if the temperature be 

 adequate. 



Pelorian Calceolaria. — Mr. Henslow showed two flowers of 

 the ordinary yellow bedding-out plant, which had assumed the 

 sleeve-like shape instead of the usual slipper. 



Cypripedium, Two-lipped. — Dr. Masters showed a specimen 



