XXXti PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



red Apples, and " that tree had soot and iron given to it. With 

 these, and plenty of light and sun, I get the best colours I can 

 wish for." The writers generally insist on a warm soil. In 

 commenting on these experiences, Dr. Miiller observed that it 

 was theoretically doubtful whether the iron — a common ingredient 

 in all soils — has any effect, as it enters only to a very minute 

 extent into the essential parts of plants (the chlorophyll). If it 

 be applied with lime, then the solution of iron sulphite, under 

 the influence of the air, is very soon changed into calcium sulphate 

 and ferric hydrate. The former may then act beneficially as a 

 "holder " of ammonia, and enhance the activity of the soil. But 

 since the soot contains ammonia salts (chiefly sulphate), it would 

 seem that the colouring may be most probably traced to this 

 ingredient, rather than the iron or lime. It was suggested that 

 experiments should be tried by using nitrate of ammonia, in the 

 proportion of 1 oz. to a gallon of water. 



Bose Sporting. — Mr. J. Hall, of Cheltenham, wrote to say that 

 " in the summer of 1890 a Rose grown on Dartmoor from a slip 

 of a tree in Torquay bloomed, and on comparing the two the one 

 from Dartmoor was a deep red orange, the one in Torquay a pale 

 lemon yellow. The soil in Torquay is the red sandstone ; Dart- 

 moor is decomposed granite with some peat." Mr. Wilks 

 observed that the Rose (from the above description) might be 

 Wm. Allen Richardson, which is of a deep apricot colour, but has 

 the habit of changing to a pale yellow, so that the soil may not 

 have been the cause. 



Cyclamen Unhealthy. — Mr. Leek, of Bullington House, 

 forwarded a plant which did not appear to be attacked with any 

 disease, but had received some check by cold, draught, or other 

 cause. Mr. Douglas observed that he had experienced a similar 

 effect in some of his plants. Mr. Leek also sent a Primula, 

 remarkable for an increased viscidity, but it appeared to be per- 

 fectly healthy. 



Lycaste Skinneri, virescent. — Mr. Sanders forwarded a speci- 

 men in which the perianth was green. The cause of virescence 

 is obscure, being permanent on the well-grown green Rose. 



Dianthus Attached by Grubs. — With reference to this subject 

 brought before the Committee at the last meeting, Mr. Douglas 

 remarked that he had lost some thousands of plants, and 

 that the only remedy was to pick out the grubs with a needle. 



