SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE, JTNE 20. 



kxiii 



to P. Cockburniana,& Chinese species bearing flowers of an orange colour, 

 reminding one of the cDlour of Hieracium aitrantiacum, quite a novel 

 colour in primulas, and quite distinct in colour from any previously 

 known primrose. 



Double-coloured Spathe in Richard ia Elliotiana. — Mr. Batchelder, of 

 Ipswich, sent photographs of a plant bearing a second spathe completely 

 coloured yellow, unlike those usually exhibited, where a second spathe has 

 usually a large yellow blotch. 



Seeds from Caucasus. — Mr. S. Hogg sent seeds of Dolichos Lablab, 

 syn. Lablab vulgaris, and Staphylea colchica, requesting the names. 



Diseased Potatoes. — Mr. Z. Gray, F.R.H.S., sent potato tubers badly 

 affected by the black scab disease, which has spread so much in this 

 country lately. 



Laurel Leaves Injured. — Mr. Saunders showed some leaves of laurel, 

 each of which contained large numbers of holes. Dr. Cooke undertook to 

 examine them. 



Phyllocoxtus. — Mr. Worsley showed several fine forms of Phyllocactus, 

 and remarked upon the difficulty there is in fixing the origin of the garden 

 cacti. It appears that two very unlike species are sent out under the 

 name Phyllocactus crenatus, one having scales up to the base of the 

 flower, the other having a long naked ovary. Garden forms appear to 

 show very little trace of the latter character. It was decided that at a 

 future meeting the question of the origin of these forms should be brought 

 forward. 



Cereus amecaensis. — Mr. Worsley also show r ed a flower of this very 

 fine white-flowered species from Mexico. 



Botanical Certificates. — Resolved : " That the Council be requested 

 to ordain that in future the recommendation of awards of Botanical 

 Certificates be confined to the Scientific Committee." 



Scientific Committee, June 20, 1905. 

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



Pear Midge. — Mr. Bowles, F.L.S., showed specimens of pears 

 attacked by the grubs of this fly, which also contained the larva? of a 

 small moth. These were referred to Mr. Saunders. 



Fieldchafers. — Mr. Gordon, V.M.H., showed specimens of these 

 beetles (Phyllopertha horticola, L.), which are something like small 

 cockchafers, and are reported to be very destructive to leaves and flowers. 

 The larvae feed on the roots of grasses, living for three years. They are 

 very similar to the larvae of the cockchafer, but much smaller. 



Black-currant Mite. — Mr. Shea called attention to the fact that he 

 had grown the variety of black currant ' Boskoop Giant ' for the past four 

 years, and had not found any signs of mite upon it, although other varieties 

 growing in close proximity were suffering severely from the attacks of the 

 mite. Several other members of the Committee had had a similar 

 experience. Mr. Shea attributed the immunity of this variety to the fact 

 that the buds were protected by relatively hard and impenetrable scale 

 leaves, through which, in all probability, the mite could not pierce. 



