SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE, DECEMBER 5. 



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troublesome in the banana plantations there. The weed has a creeping 

 rhizome bearing numerous tuber-like growths, and spreads very rapidly. 

 Mr. Massee, V.M.H., said : " This pest Cyperus rotundus, Linn., is found 

 in nearly all tropical and sub-tropical countries. Names such as 1 devil's 

 grass,' &c, indicate its want of favour in the eyes of agriculturists. It 

 has been long known as a pest in Madeira. Like couch-grass, this weed 

 is not eradicated but spread by ordinary cultivation, each tuber being 

 capable of propagating the plant. It should be removed with a fork and 

 the roots and tubers collected." 



Violet from Burmah. — Mr. Massee reported that he could rind no 

 fungus on the violet which was brought by Mr. Saunders. 



Fungus on Vine-roots. — Mr. Saunders, F.L.S., showed some soil 

 permeated with the mycelium of a fungus which had caused considerable 

 trouble in a vine border, but in the absence of fruit it was impossible to 

 say to which of the higher fungi it belonged. 



Variegation in Hazel-leaf. — Mr. Spencer Pickering, F.R.S., showed a 

 leaf from a hazel bush, one side of which bore a large proportion of 

 variegated leaves. The greater part of the leaf shown was devoid of 

 chlorophyll. He remarked upon the fact that many leaves during the 

 past season seemed to be lacking in chlorophyll ; for example, apple- 

 leaves showed veins more clearly than usual. 



Scarlet Runner Poisoning. — In connection with this question, which 

 was raised at the last meeting, Dr. Masters pointed out that Lindley, in 

 the "Vegetable Kingdom," p. 518, states that "the roots of Phaseolus 

 radiatus are narcotic, and so are those of P. multiflorus, the scarlet 

 runner kidney bean, which is recorded to have poisoned some children at 

 Chelsea who had partaken of them." In the "Treasury oi Botany," 

 part ii. p. 874, also the following occurs : " It is worthy of notice that 

 the roots of Phaseolus multiflorus are narcotic and poisonous." Mr. 

 Holmes, F.L.S., stated that the seeds of the French bean, kidney bean, 

 and butter bean were being analysed to discover whether any poisonous 

 property was present in them, and a case of illness among children who 

 had eaten a number of the seeds of the scarlet runner was mentioned. 



Grapes Diseased. — Mr. Gordon, V.M.H., showed some grapes which 

 had spots round the stalk. The trouble was restricted to one house, and 

 the grapes had become spotted in a similar fashion for several years, 

 subsequently decaying. There is no trace of red spider in the house. 



Irritation Caused by Leaves of Californian Bay. — Canon Ellacombe, 

 V.M.H., showed leaves of this plant, Umbellularia califomica, and drew 

 attention to the very pleasant scent which they emit. He stated, how- 

 ever, that with some people the scent caused violent sneezing and 

 headache. He recounted the experience of a lady who, after handling 

 the leaves, had probably got some of the juice upon her handkerchief, 

 and so to her nose. In the evening she suffered from considerable 

 tingling in the nose, and in the morning her face had become much 

 swollen, particularly under the eyes. Douglas states that he could not 

 sleep near the bush. 



Electricity in Horticulture. — Canon Ellacombe also remarked on 

 some experiments which were being carried out by a gardener in his 

 neighbourhood with plants in relation to electricity. Wires were run 



