xlvi PROCEEDINGS of the royal horticultural society. 



Mite on Bark of Apple. — Mr. Griggs sent a piece of apple-bark 

 infested with the mite Oribata lapidaria. The mite is frequent upon the 

 bark of apple-trees, but causes no injury to them. 



Disease of Beech-trees. — Dr. Cooke reported upon the specimens sent 

 to the last meeting, on which the common fungus Tubercularia vulgaris 

 was growing. The stumps growing near by had another fungus, Xylaria 

 hypoxylon, upon them. 



Pear, Diseased. — The decay in the pear brought to the last meeting 

 by Mr. Shea, which appeared as brown spots in the flesh, nothing being 

 visible on the outside, Dr. Cooke attributed to the fungus which caused 

 the "brown rot " of fruit, and to which the black apple recently exhibited 

 also probably owed its peculiar appearance. 



Gall on Eucalyptus occidentalism — Mr. Holmes, F.L.S., showed 

 specimens of this on bark known commercially as mallet-bark. A large 

 quantity is being imported from Australia for tanning purposes. Mr. 

 Saunders took the specimen to examine further. 



Spraying Apparatus. — Mr. Holmes also showed a simple form of 

 spraying apparatus which is shortly to be put upon the market. 



Spirits of Tar for Wounds on Trees. — Mr. Hooper asked whether this 

 might be used, and both Mr. Gordon and Mr. Shea spoke of excellent 

 results arising from its use. 



Cyclamen Leaves Discoloured. — Dr. Cooke reported that the rusty spots 

 on cyclamen leaves received from Stevenage showed no sign of fungus. 

 It was suggested that the injury was probably caused by a mite similar 

 to. if not identical with, the begonia-mite. 



Scientific Committee, February 14, 1905. 

 Dr. M. T. Masters, F.R.S., in the Chair, and eleven members present. 



Apples Bolting. — Mrs. Lee sent some apples which appeared sound 

 externally, but on being cut were found to be rotten. Dr. Cooke, V.M.H., 

 reported upon these as follows : — " There is every reason to believe that 

 the apples are affected with ' brown rot,' caused by Monilia fructigena, 

 which has been more common than usual this winter. It is a fungous 

 disease, although the fungus is not yet fully developed in the apple sent. 

 It is capable of passing on to healthy apples in storage, hence all diseased 

 fruits should be removed and destroyed as soon as the disease appears. 

 The same disease attacks apples, pears, cherries, apricots, and almost all 

 pulpy fruits, reducing them to a brown rot." 



Worm-eating Slug. — Mr. Saunders, F.L.S., showed a specimen of the 

 shell-bearing slug, Testacella haliotidea, which subsists on earthworms, 

 and consequently spends most of its time in the ground. 



A Xew Greenhouse Pest. — Mr. Chittenden showed a number of speci- 

 mens of a cockroach, Lencophcea surinamensis, in all stages of develop- 

 ment. The species, which is widely distributed in the tropics, has been 

 found only two or three times in England, and was not until now known 

 to breed here. It was recently found in great numbers in tan at 



