Xxiv PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Blood Oranges from Spain that do not bring Onions in the same 

 hold. 



1(1 4. After being landed, Oranges and Onions are stored very 

 often in the same floor, sometimes for a couple of weeks to- 

 gether.' 



" So it appears that Valencia Oranges are surrounded by an 

 Onion-tainted atmosphere from the time of their growth on the 

 trees to the time they are sold in shops. 



" I think this is enough to account for the strange Onion-like 

 flavour that I have detected in several lots of Blood Oranges 

 sold in the London shops. 



" Other kinds of Oranges from Valencia must come in contact 

 with a tainted atmosphere, but for some reason I have not 

 detected this taint in other than Blood Oranges. 



" The question that now remains to be answered is this, Why 

 is the Blood Orange more subject to atmospheric contamination 

 than other kinds ? Is there any ingredient in the Blood Orange 

 which has a special attraction for the aroma of Onion ? 



" I am not in a position to attempt any reply to this question. 



" I have put some Blood Oranges, which were already slightly 

 tainted, in a box with a chopped Spanish Onion for ten days, 

 and now submit them to the Committee for examination. [The 

 Onion-flavour was distinctly perceptible. — Ed.] 



" I may add that Messrs. Isaacs & Sons have kindly offered to 

 send me a few Oranges, which may not have come in contact 

 with Onions, for experiment. If I get them, I may perhaps be 

 able to submit the result of further investigations in this 

 direction.— G. Bona via." 



Scientific Committee, May 8, 1894. 



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



present. 



" Alternating Generations.'" — Mr. McLachlan brought before 

 the Committee a book bearing the above title, lately issued by 

 the Clarendon Press. It is the English translation of a work on 

 Oak-galls and gall-flies by Hermann Adler, translated by 

 Charles R. Straton, F.R.C.S. Ed. It has two large plates of 

 illustrations. 



