SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE, JULY 25. 



cxxi 



Christinas. In these and similar cases it appears to be the 

 carbonic acid evolved by respiration of the fruit which acts as a 

 preservative by driving away the air from the enclosed space. 

 This tends to destroy, or at least hinder, the fermentive or 

 putrefactive action of bacteria." Mr. Sykes hopes to communicate 

 further results from experiments with this year's fruit. 



Pelargonium ignescens, /3 sterile. — Mr. Henslow exhibited a 

 specimen of this plant found in a cottage garden at Zeals, Dorset. 

 On referring to Sweet's " GeraniaceaV' it appears to have been 

 raised from the seed of P. fulgidum by Sir R. C. Hoare. Another 

 seedling of the same species was P. scintillans. Though called 

 "hybrids," the parentage is unknown. The word "sterile" 

 refers to the anthers being devoid of pollen. P. ignescens (proper), 

 as well as the above, are all figured by Sweet, op. cit., viz. 

 P. ignescens, vol. i. No. 2 ; P. ign. /3 sterile, i. 55 ; P. scintillans, 

 i. 28 ; and P. fulgidum, i. 69. The date given is 1821. 



" Shaky " Ash-iuood. — Messrs. Holland & Holland, of Oxford 

 Street, forwarded a remarkable specimen of the peculiarity known 

 as " shaky timber" among carpenters. On splitting the wood a 

 central portion separates from the surrounding layers. It is 

 probably due to some seasonal influence when the cambium 

 formed an imperfect and easily separable layer. 



Scientific Committee, October 10, 1893. 



R. McLachlan, Esq., F.R.S., in the Chair, and six members 



present. 



Peach Disease. — With reference to the diseased Peaches 

 brought to the last meeting by Dr. Muller, Mr. G. Massee, of 

 Kew, reports as follows: " The Peach disease is caused by the 

 fungus Glceosporium fructigerum, Berk., or rather by G. lacti- 

 color, Berk., which is in reality only the former species modified 

 by the host, as proved by cultures. In America, where the 

 disease is too well known, and has also attacked Grapes during 

 the last two or three years, it has been found that the fungus 

 can be kept well under control by two or three sprayings of 

 potassic sulphide (half an ounce to a gallon of water) applied in 

 June or July. Of course, it is too late to attempt spraying this 

 year, but all diseased fruit should be removed and destroyed to 



