clXKXW PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



of the female parent (P. obconica). Dr. Masters gave an 

 interesting account of the introduction of the wild plant into 

 England. Dr. Henry first pointed it out to him at Kew 

 among a collection of dried plants, which he had made in the 

 mountains of Central China. Dr. Masters was thus enabled to 

 recognise it growing in the gardens of Appley Towers, Isle of 

 Wight, the seed having been sent over by one of the family. 

 Thence it passed into the hands of Messrs. Sutton, who have 

 tried to cross it, but hitherto it has appeared to resist all attempts. 

 Further particulars will be found recorded in the Gardeners' 

 Chronicle, January 2G and November 23, 1889, November 15, 

 1890, and in Mr. A. W. Sutton's paper on Chinese Primulas, 

 Journal B.H.S., 1891, vol. xiii. p. 99. 



Catalpa bignonioides. — Dr. Bonavia exhibited specimens of 

 these curiously-winged seeds, but they did not appear to have 

 been fertilised, as no embryo could be detected in them. The 

 seed vessel, which is rarely seen in this country, is nearly a foot 

 in length. 



Canker in Apple Trees. — Dr. Masters exhibited specimens of 

 this common disease, which has hitherto baffled investigations 

 as to its cause, but the examples shown bore numerous red 

 fructifications of the fungus Nectria ditissima bursting through 

 the bark. 



Pinus Balfoureana var. aristata. — He also showed specimens 

 of the cones of this Pine, which is a native of the alpine regions 

 of Colorado. They were received from Mr. A. D. Webster. The 

 shoots bearing the young cones bore short stout leaves, unlike 

 those of a vegetative shoot, on which they were longer and more 

 slender, though Dr. Masters observed that the anatomical 

 peculiarity of having a single resin canal is the same in both. 

 The scales of the ripe cone have the external bracts terminating 

 in an awn-like tip, which doubtless suggested the varietal name. 



Tomato Fruits Diseased. — He also brought some fruits badly 

 diseased. It appeared to be an advanced stage of the " yellow 

 spotted" form. 



Ilex othcra Fruit. — Dr. Masters also showed a fruiting branch 

 of this Japanese species of Holly. It has not been seen before 

 in this country with berries. 



Celery Decayed. — Mr. Messenger, of Woolverstone Gardens, 

 Ipswich, forwarded two large plants with the interior leafstalks 



