cxxx 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



over, if the constitution be weakened, as was possibly the case in 

 the present instance by the fungus, then the plant may be only 

 capable of forming stamens, for it is well known that the male 

 sex is often correlated with a lessened degree of vitality. 



Oranges attacked by the Fly. — A communication was received 

 from Malta stating that. " The Orange fly, Ceratitis citriperda, 

 has of late years done much damage to the fruits of the Orange and 

 Citron trees in Malta. It has also attacked the fruit of the Pear, 

 Peach, Nectarine, and Fig. The females penetrate the skin of 

 the ripe fruit and deposit their eggs, and the larva? rapidly 

 destroy the fruit. It is believed that in the island of Malta there 

 are four broods of the fly in the year. The fly has been observed 

 in Italy, Spain, the Azores, and South Africa."' No specimens 

 were sent, so that no opinion could be expressed upon the matter 

 or a remedy suggested. It was thought advisable to take this 

 Opportunity of calling the attention of correspondents to the 

 extreme importance of their invariably sending specimens with 

 their communications, otherwise it is quite impossible for 

 scientific experts to return satisfactory replies. 



Fog Report. — The discussion upon the injury of London fogs 

 upon vegetation was renewed, and a circular drawn up, which 

 will shortly be issued to growers within a radius of twelve to 

 fifteen miles from the metropolis. The Committee trust that 

 they will furnish as full details as possible, with the hope that 

 the investigation may lead to the adoption of such preventives 

 as conditions will permit against the increasing injury which 

 now prevails in the suburbs of London. 



The Lady Apple. — Mr. Henslow exhibited a spray covered 

 with the brightly coloured fruit from a tree which grows in a 

 hedge within his garden near Drayton Green. Ealing. It is pro- 

 bably a descendant from some plant introduced many generations 

 ago. It is asserted in " The Fruit Manual," by Dr. Hogg, to 

 have been brought from the Peloponesus to Rome by Appius 

 Claudius, and was called the ,4 Lady Apple " because ladies in 

 France were accustomed to carry it in their pockets in order that 

 the peculiar odour might be imparted to their handkerchiefs 

 Though known to early continental writers, it does not appear to 

 have been introduced into England till the end of the seventeenth 

 century. It was first discovered as a wilding in the Forest of Api 

 in Brittany. Only one dish was exhibited (by Mr. Pragnell, of 



