SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE, MARCH 14. 



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direction of Mr. G. Massee, V.M.H., who had kindly undertaken to super- 

 intend them. The experiments are : — (1) To ascertain whether the black- 

 currant bud mite can infect the hazel and vice versa ; and (2) to discover 

 what is the effect on germination of soaking seeds in various solutions. 



Formation of Fruit-buds. — A communication concerning the date at 

 which blossom- buds were first formed on fruit trees, and the conditions 

 influencing their formation, was received from Mr. J. Dunlop, F.R.H.S. 

 After some discussion, in which the Chairman, Prof. Henslow, Rev. W. 

 Wilks, Mr. Baker, and others took part, the matter was referred to the 

 Secretary. 



Daffodil Poisoning. — Referring to this matter, which came up at the 

 last meeting, Mr. Saunders said it seemed probable that the crystals of 

 calcium oxalate in the leaves acted as inoculation points, causing a small 

 wound which allowed the entrance of the poisonous substance which is 

 known to occur in the leaves. 



Disease of Cucumbers.— -Mr. Hans Giissow showed drawings and 

 cultures of a fungus causing disease in cucumbers. The young fruits are 

 covered with a velvety growth of blackish-green fungal filaments, and 

 it is reported by Prof. Maze that the leaves also are attacked, forming 

 spots similar to those produced by Gercospora melonis, Cke. ; the spores, 

 however, of the fungus are quite different. Mr. Giissow proposes the 

 name Gorynespora Mazei for this fungus, establishing a new genus and 

 species (see " Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society," vol. 65 (1904), 

 pp. 270-272, figs.). Mr. Massee and Dr. Cooke both stated that the disease 

 was well known in this country, that the fungus was probably the conidial 

 stage of a higher fungus, placed by British mycologists in the genus 

 Alternaria. 



Scale Insects. — Mr. Walker showed specimens of a scale insect which 

 had occurred outdoors on the following shrubs ; Escallonia macrantha, 

 Trachelospermum jasminoides, and Cratcegus Pyracantha. Mr. Newstead, 

 who determined the insect to be Lecanium hesperidum, stated in a letter 

 that the insect was very rarely met with outdoors, though known in green- 

 houses. 



Effect of Hail.—Mv. G. Woodward, F.R.H.S., of Maidstone, sent 

 branches of fruit-trees showing large, partly healed wounds, many of 

 them 2 inches in length by 1 inch in width, caused by the hailstorm 

 which occurred three-and-a-half years since. 



Capnodnim on Oranges. — Leaves of oranges almost covered with 

 Capnodium were received from Lisbon from Lady Denison-Pender. This 

 fungus lives on the honeydew secreted by aphides, &c, and may be checked 

 by killing the insects as soon as they appear by spraying .with a resin 

 wash. 



'Stag's Horn' Ash. — Mr. Burbidge, V.M.H., sent specimens of con- 

 torted and fasciated twigs of this curious and little known variety of 

 ash. " The tree," says Mr. Burbidge, "is propagated by grafting on 

 the common ash as a stock. It forms a low-spreading tree 15 to 25 feet 

 in height, and as the tip or apex of every twig is contorted and fasciated 

 it is very peculiar-looking when its leaves fall in autumn and winter. 

 There is a very good example of this ' stag's horn ' variety on the lawn 

 at Kilmacurragh, co. Wicklow." 



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