CXXviii PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



secreting a ferment to digest the food, Prof. Green remarked that 

 hehad not succeeded in isolating the ferment ; but the epidermis 

 of the cotyledon was quite of the character suggesting the 

 presence of one. He noticed a fatty acid present, apparently 

 indicating reactions produced by some ferment. 



Scientific Committee, November 28, 1893. 

 Dr. M. T. Masters, F.R.S., in the Chair, and six members present. 



Pears and Fungicides. — With reference to the remedies 

 suggested by Mr. Massee, Dr. Masters inquired of Mr. Bunyard 

 as to his experience in their use. He replied that growers were 

 frequently deterred from employing any poisonous preparations 

 in consequence of the carelessness of the men from their want 

 of realising the dangers involved in using them, so that they 

 preferred to employ sulphur, and especially the " black " im- 

 purer sort. 



Tamarix dimorphic. — Mr. Henslow remarked that the two 

 species common in Egypt, T. articulata and T. nilotica, corre- 

 sponded with the two forms of Casuarina exhibited by Dr. 

 Masters at the last meeting, who observed that T. gallica not 

 infrequently develops the two forms on the same plant. 



Sterculia nobilis, B. Br. — A fruiting specimen of this plant 

 was received from Syon House. A synonym is Southwellia 

 nobilis, of Salisbury's " Paradisus Londinensis." It has been 

 known to fruit in this country, but Dr. Masters observed that it 

 is rarely now seen. The present tree is eighty years old, but 

 never fruited before. Dr. Church observed that being closely 

 allied to Theobroma cacao, or Chocolate, it would be interesting 

 to examine the seeds for theobromine. 



Primula capitata and Basal Bot in Daffodils. — The follow- 

 ing communication was received from Rev. C. Wolley Dod, 

 Edge Hall : " I have been engaged for several years in investi- 

 gating that mysterious phenomenon, basal rot in Daffodils. The 

 Scientific Committee have assured me (after repeated examina- 

 tion of bulbs sent by me) that no specific cause of it can be 

 detected. I am inquiring whether there is anything analogous 

 to it in any other plants — viz. death from general unsuitable 

 conditions, commencing at the juncture between the root and 



