SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE, MAY 5. 



xxxix 



Scientific Committee, May 5, 1896. 



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

 Prof. Zacharias, Director of the Botanic Garden, Hamburg, 

 were present. 



Primula, Auricula x Alpine. — Dr. Masters reported upon 

 two abnormal specimens brought to the last meeting occurring 

 among the seedling hybrids raised by Mr. Douglas. One was 

 foliaceous, the corolla, &c, being represented by minute green 

 leaves. In the other the corolla was only abnormally bent. 



Barclficld Oxlip. — With reference to the statement by Mr. 

 French that this species resisted being crossed by the Cowslip or 

 Primrose, the Rev. C. Wolley Dod sent specimens from his garden 

 to show that there was reason to suppose that they were the result 

 of the Bardfield Oxlip having been crossed by the Primrose. 

 The foliage sent, however, agreed almost entirely with that of 

 the Oxlip type, and in one case only of the flowers was there a 

 slight tendency to produce the inflated calyx tube and the crest 

 or corona within the corolla tube, characteristic of Primroses 

 and Cowslips, the total absence of this being a marked feature of 

 the Oxlip. 



Baspberry-stem Borer. — Mr. McLachlan remarked on a. 

 specimen sent by Mr. Pearson, of Chilwell, that the injury re- 

 sulted in the destruction of the buds, the eggs being hatched in 

 the flower ; but that it was difficult to suggest a remedy. Cart- 

 grease smeared round the base of the canes, or kerosine emulsion 

 washed round the stems has been suggested as preventives. The 

 grub was that of Lampronia rubiella, a small moth. It formed 

 the prey of tomtits. 



Primula Auricula, x . — Mr. Douglas exhibited plants of 

 crosses between the pubescent type (the pod bearer) and the 

 Alpine ; and remarked upon the perseverance of humble bees in 

 visiting the Auricula ; within a quarter of an hour he had observed 

 that a bee visited 508 flowers, thus giving two seconds apiece, 

 on the average, to each. 



Cineraria, Origin of. — Mr. Douglas also exhibited several 

 sprays of different shades of mauve, from seedlings raised from 

 the plant at Kew of Cineraria cruenta. He called attention to 

 the original illustration of this species, and of G. lanata in the- 

 Botanical Magazine, and considered that the probabilities were 



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