EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. 



xci 



SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE. 



Dr. M. T. Masters in the Chair, and five other members present. 



Bosa simplicifolia. — Dr. Masters further examined the 

 anatomical structure of the stem and petiole of this exstipulate 

 unifoliate species exhibited at the last meeting-, and found that 

 the fibro-vascular cords leading to the normal position of stipules 

 were present, the stipules themselves being quite arrested. He 

 commented upon the importance of extended observations on the 

 anatomical structure of plants from a horticultural point of view — 

 in that, for example, when the water cells are more abundant 

 may it not be a cause that the plant appears to be more liable 

 to be attacked by mildew ? 



The Blight of Caterpillars. — Mr. McLachlan observed on the 

 present superabundance of caterpillars that it is far less serious 

 and much more local than is popularly supposed to be the case, 

 some districts being apparently quite free from any excess. 

 Beinarks were made upon the popular errors associated with the 

 vague term " blight," and the difficulty of persuading the un- 

 scientific world that plagues of various kinds of destructive 

 animals had nothing whatever to do with atmospheric appear- 

 ances of haze. 



Amorphophallus Titan am. — Dr. Masters exhibited drawings 

 of, and Mr. Morris described, this remarkable Aroid now flowering 

 at Kew. It was received from Sumatra ten years ago, having 

 been discovered by Dr. Beccari. The tuber weighed 56 lbs. at 

 the beginning of this year, and grew at the rate of 4 inches a 

 day. The spadix and stem together are 7 feet in height. The 

 spathe was at first closely adpressed to the spadix, but on Friday 

 morning, the 21st, it began to spread, and was fully expanded 

 for one day only. By Saturday morning it again closed round 

 the spadix. Like so many Aroids, the odour was most offensive. 

 The male flowers are situated low down in a ring, and doubtless 

 pollinated the females which were below them. Flies were 

 observed at the base, but whether they assisted in the fertilisation 

 or were laying eggs in the spadix could not be determined. 



Pyrethrum attacked by Insects. — Dr. Miiller showed speci- 

 mens of leaves penetrated by a dipterous miner, probably a 

 species of Phytomyza. It first appeared on the yellow Soleil 



