XC PROCEEDINGS OF THE EOYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



which leads to a warty appearance on the tuber such as is often seen on 

 this variety. 



Crossing of Primulas. — The following letter, sent by Mr. P. Murray 

 Thompson to Professor Henslow, was read : " For the last few years I 

 have been interesting myself as to the influence which each of the 

 parents has upon seedlings, and have used primroses as the basis of my 

 experiments. I had the idea that the pollen-parent influences the colour, 

 and this I find to be the case in all my experiments. In the first 

 generation I did not get one plant bearing double flowers, although I had 

 used pollen from double flowers. Saving seed from these single seedlings 

 without any artificial fertilisation, I was surprised to find a good per- 

 centage of doubles, some of them very fine indeed ; but what pleased me 

 more was the great vigour with which they grew, compared with the old 

 doubles which have been in commerce so long. If a repetition of my 

 experiment should be followed by similar results, it seems to me that we 

 ought to have a very much extended range of colours and improvement 

 in growth of our double primroses." Mr. Douglas, V.M.H., stated that 

 his experience coincided with that of the writer so far as the colour of the 

 flowers of cross-bred offspring was concerned. 



Hybrid Nepenthes. — Dr. Masters, F.R.S., showed a considerable 

 number of pitchers of hybrid Nepenthes recently raised by M. Jarry 

 Desloges, and commented on their peculiarities. 



Abies Maries ii Fruiting. — Dr. Masters also showed a cone of Abies 

 Mariesii, the first he had seen grown in this country. 



"Polarity" of Growth in Seakale. — Mr. Chittenden showed a root- 

 cutting of seakale which had been planted in the soil in an inverted 

 position. Two buds had grown out from the lower end, and the resulting 

 shoots had curved upwards, elongating until they reached the surface of 

 the soil. From the other end roots had been produced which had curved 

 downwards. 



" Phyllocly " in Antirrhinum. — Mr. Chittenden also showed an 

 inflorescence of Antirrhinum, in which, instead of bearing flowers, each 

 pedicel bore a considerable number of small bracts. The plant bearing 

 these had been found among a batch grown for seed. 



Gigantic Polypori. — Mr. Baty sent several very large specimens of 

 Polyporus fomentarius, measuring 18 inches in diameter, found growing 

 upon ash-trees at Gerrard's Cross, Bucks. 



Botanical Certificates. — Dr. Masters reported the result of the 

 conference between representatives of the various Committees upon 

 these, and it was resolved that a sub-committee of three should be 

 appointed to go round the exhibits and request that plants worthy of 

 consideration should be sent up to the Scientific Committee. 



Scientific Committee, November 21, 1905. 

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



Mealy Bug in Bananas. — From Las falmas came specimens of an 

 insect which " attacks both plant and fruit of bananas, particularly the 



