SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE, NOVEMBER 10. 



clxxix 



in hairiness, could not be distinguished from the female 

 parent. 



New Palm. — He also showed a photograph of a Palm new to 

 cultivation, received from the late Baron von Muller, who wrote 

 as follows : — " In 1892 1 described the 1 Beatrice Palm,' then 

 discovered by Mr. Eugene Fitzalan on Mount Elliott, in 

 N.E. Queensland {Ptychosperma Beatrices). It is allied to 

 P. Alexandra, but is remarkable for the wide enlargement 

 towards the base of the stem, with step -like processes. It differs 

 also in the much less hardness of the stem, and in the leaves 

 being almost straight to the summit, besides in having smaller 

 fruits and other minor characteristics." 



Curious Melon. — He also showed a photograph of a Melon 

 fruiting from the unusual position of the " collar," i.e. at the 

 junction between the root and the stem. 



Nitragin. — It was suggested that this new material, con- 

 taining bacteria for fertilising the soil where leguminous plants 

 are grown, should be experimented with at Chiswick. 



Hypertrophy of Tropceolum. — Dr. Masters also showed a 

 dense globular mass of abortive shoots which had grown at the 

 base of the stem, probably in consequence of some injury to the 

 collar. Such abnormal outgrowths are not uncommon in 

 Pelargonia, which are allied to Tropaeolum. 



Scientific Committee, Novembee 10, 1896. 



E. McLachlan, Esq., F.E.S., in the Chair, and five members 



present. 



Carnation Disease. — In reference to the diseased Carnations 

 exhibited on October 27, Mr. J. Douglas wrote saying the 

 disease was caused by Bacterium Dianthi, Arthur, and that the 

 disease was known in the United States as bacteriosis. Mr. 

 Massee, of Kew, says, " Plants, if strong and healthy, may be 

 kept free from the disease by keeping the foliage dry, and pre- 

 venting the presence of aphides. Overhead spraying should 

 be done only occasionally on bright days, the water containing 

 only a small amount of ammoniacal copper carbonate." 



Abnormal Cattleya. — Mr. E. St. John Tucker, Sydenham, 

 sent a pseudo-bulb of Cattleya labiata auhtmnalis, which instead 



