lxxiv PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Disease of Caetacece. — Mr. Worsley showed specimens of a scabby 

 growth on the stems of Phyllocactus, which Mr. Mas see undertook to 

 examine. 



^Melons Dying. — Specimens of melon suffering from the attacks of 

 eelworm at the roots came from Hatfield, Herts. The method of dealing 

 with this troublesome pest was detailed in the Joubx. R.H.S. xxviii. 

 (1904), p. xxiv. 



Vines Diseased. — Vine leaves showing large yellow patches and 

 somewhat papery in texture, from vines bearing much smaller fruit than 

 usual, were sent from Stafford. No fungi or insects were to be seen, 

 but it was considered that the vines (four out of nine in one hoase of 

 ' Black Hamburgh ') were suffering from some condition in the border 

 that affected the roots, possibly choked drainage. 



Primula pycnoloba (Bur. et Francb.). — This newly introduced species 

 from TV. China was shown by Messrs. Yeitch. The plant bears an 

 umbel of flowers with large, inflated calyces, and a small, deep orange- 

 coloured corolla, scarcely exserted beyond the calyx-tube. The Com- 

 mittee desired to see this at a future meeting. 



Origin of Garden Forms of Phyllocactus. — Letters on this subject 

 were received from Messrs. Yeitch, of Chelsea, and from M. de Laet, of 

 Contich. The former stated that in the raising of their hybrids Phyllo- 

 cactus Ackermanni, P. crenatus, P. phyllanthoides, and P. albus 

 superbus had been used, as well as the best English and Continental 

 forms known when the raising of the 1 Yeitch 's hybrids ' was commenced. 

 M. de Laet, of Conticli, wrote that the following come true from seed : 

 P. anguliger, P. Ackermanni, P. grandis, P. latifrons, P. phyllanthoides, 

 P. strictus, P. crenatus, and P. Hookeri, and may be regarded as true 

 species. Hybrids are : i., P. crenatus x Cereus grandifforus produced 

 the Cooperi class; ii., P. crenatus x P. phyllanthoides (small flowers) 

 produced the rosa hybrids, such as Vogeli ; iii., P. Ackermanni x Cereus 

 speciosus have given the most beautifully-coloured hybrids, such as 

 x Feastii. x 1 Conway Giant,' <fcc. ; and iv., all have been recrossed and 

 have given most interesting forms and colours. " I myself obtained 

 unexpected results. For instance. I obtained the Cooperi form, true in 

 form, but of the finest pure red colour, and jus: las: we=k . seedlings from 

 1900 and l- s 99) two forms of the red Cooperi, but shaded with purple 

 (cross Cooperi x ' Conway Giant '). Another interesting cross is 1 Joseph 

 de Laet,' of two shades of blue. Usually all the Phyllocacti have the 

 colours of the sepals and petals shading into one another softly ; but in 

 this the contrast is forced, the sepals being very dark and the petals of 

 the softest shades. The value of this plant lies in the colour, not in 

 the form : there are better forms (' Niobe ' x ' Docteur Hernu ')." 



Mr. Worsley made some remarks upon the foregoing, but reserved a 

 fuller account of these plants for a future occasion. 



Scientific Committee, July 4, 1905. 

 Dr. M. C. Cooke, Y.M.H., in the Chair, and six members present. 



Biota Attacked by Insects. — Mr. Worsley sent specimens, which Mr. 

 Saunders, F.L.S., reported were attacked by an aphis, Lac hn us cupressus, 



