SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE, OCTOBER 10. 



cxxiii 



may have bad something to do with their not getting bruised on 

 the way. The 1 Navel ' Oranges were more juicy than the same 

 variety we get in London from California. 



" I hardly know how to explain the contamination of the juice 

 by the musty air in the box. The peel contains a large quantity 

 of essential oil. This may have absorbed the musty aroma, 

 and then, when saturated, passed it on to the juice vesicles, 

 which also contain a considerable proportion of essential oil. 

 By keeping and exposure to the air this process may have been 

 reversed." 



With regard to the cause of the flavour of the Oranges, Prof. 

 Church explained it by the fermentation of the hay and osmose 

 causing the scent to enter ; then transpiration would subse- 

 quently bring about the odour externally. It was remarked by 

 Mr. McLachlan that certain Oranges were eaten green in Java 

 and Ceylon. Dr. Bonavia added that such become yellow subse- 

 quently, though they were edible in the green state. They have 

 been illustrated by Miss North among her paintings at Kew. 



Pears diseased. — Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons forwarded samples 

 of Pitmaston Duchess Pears affected apparently by a fungus, 

 iving the fruit a warty appearance. They were referred to Kew 

 for examination. 



Salisburia diseased. — A branch of this tree was received from 

 South Dorset, evidently in a very enfeebled condition. It was 

 the general opinion that the mild, damp, maritime climate of the 

 situation was unfavourable to it, and the probable cause of its 

 unhealthiness. 



IVasjis and Pears. — Mr. Blandford observed on the habit of 

 tomtits, which he had seen pecking holes in Pears, which gave 

 wasps access to attack the juicy tissues. Application of nicotine 

 to the wound kept them at bay for six hours. Mr. Henslow 

 added that he had noticed wasps attacking mealy-bugs in a 

 vinery before the Grapes were ripe. Mr. McLachlan added that 

 he had noticed tomtits attacking Cobnuts for the purpose of 

 extracting the grubs within them. 



Gypripedium, Syrian thy. — Sir Trevor Lawrence exhibited a 

 plant having two flowers welded into one. It possessed one 

 lower smaller sepal, two large ones above, three nearly equal 

 sized petals, two perfect labella, and two staminodia ; the ovary 

 showed the fusion by a longitudinal groove. 



