CXXU PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



prevent the diffusion of the spores." Dr. Miiller observed that 

 he had seen the disease twice soon after the setting of the fruit. 

 This appeared to be locally arrested in growth where the fungus 

 occurred, the rest of the Peach growing normally. 



Pyrus japonica Fruiting. — Mr. Blandford exhibited speci- 

 mens, and commented on the very large size to which the fruit 

 had attained this year. It does not appear to be capable of 

 being put to any use as yet. 



Oranges from Australia. — Dr. Bonavia communicated the 

 following remarks on a curious phenomenon connected with 

 Oranges : " On July 12, 1893, a box of Oranges was shipped to 

 me by a friend in South Australia. It contained four varieties 

 of the so-called ' Portugal ' Orange, viz. the 1 Navel ' Orange, a 

 large and a small Blood Orange, and the Egg Orange. Each 

 Orange was wrapped in tissue paper, and the whole were packed 

 tightly in hay. They reached me, after having been about five 

 weeks on the sea, in very sound condition, with the exception of 

 one which was spoilt. Probably this had been bruised before it 

 was packed. 



" On the voyage the Oranges sweated and the hay became 

 damp, for when I opened the box a musty smell of damp hay 

 pervaded the whole box ; and now comes an interesting point. 



" I unpacked all the Oranges and freed them from paper and 

 hay. They all had a musty smell. I washed some of them 

 and dried them. Apparently the musty smell was completely 

 removed from the outside ; but on cutting open the Oranges 

 every one of them had not only a musty smell in the juice 

 carpels, but also a peculiar musty flavour. 



u It would appear that the mustiness of the damp hay pene- 

 trated through the peel and pervaded the whole interior of the 

 Orange, giving a peculiar and unpleasant flavour to the juice. 



" There was no difference in the four varieties. They were 

 all equally contaminated by the musty smell and flavour, 

 although otherwise quite sound, and when washed the mustiness 

 could not be detected in the rind. 



"I ate some of them every day, and by keeping the mustiness 

 of the juice became less, till about the fourth week after unpack- 

 ing the mustiness in the juice was scarcely perceptible. 



" All the varieties were rather thick-skinned, and were very 

 juicy, and all kept very well. Probably the soft hay-packing 



