Iviii PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE. 



January 9, 1906. 

 Dr. M. T. PIASTERS, F.R.S., in the Chair, and ten members present. 



Botanical Certificate.— 1h. H. J. Elwes, F.E.S., V.M.H., showed 

 Massonia imstulata, a curious liliaceous plant from South Africa. The 

 plant is by no means new in gardens, as it was introduced by Masson, 

 and was figured in the "Botanical Magazine " more than a century ago 

 (tab. 612, April 1, 1803) ; but it does not seem to have been found wild 

 since Masson's time. Mr. Elwes's plant differs from the one originally 

 figured in having three leaves in place of two — otherwise it agrees exactly. 

 It has pustulate leaves, "like shagreen," as stated in the "Botanical 

 Magazine." From the details of the flower it is evident that the plant is 

 liliaceous, with a head of green flowers, each of which has a cylindrical 

 perianth tube, from the edge of which proceed the six narrow spreading 

 segments and as many stamens. The tube of the flower is filled with 

 nectar, formed, as it would seem, from the blackish tissue at the base of 

 the stamens. This is well described in the "Botanical Magazine" as 

 " a clear nectareous liquid which, rising above the brim, adds to the 

 singular appearance of the plant." The pollen grains are relatively 

 large and ellipsoid. The genus Massonia, according to Mr. Baker's 

 monograph of the Liliaccce, contains twenty-three species, all natives of 

 the Cape of Good Hope. The exact habitat of the present species is 

 unknown. See Baker in "Flora Capensis," vi. (1897), p. 410. A warm 

 greenhouse temperature, with plenty of water in the growing season and 

 little or none dunng the resting stage, seems to be indicated. Mr. Elwes 

 remarked that it was of exceedingly slow growth. On the motion of 

 Mr. Douglas, V.M.H., seconded by Mr. Bowles, a Botanical Certificate 

 was unanimously awarded. 



Ajjple diseased. — Mr. Spencer Pickering, F.E.S., showed fruits from 

 a tree grown in Bedfordshire, and known locally as the "ring pippin." 

 Two trees of this variety were growing in an old orchard, and every fruit 

 every year was grooved transversely, so that a deep ring was made in the 

 flesh. No fruits on the trees of other varieties in the orchard were 

 similarly affected. Other members of the Committee remarked that 

 similarly cracked fruits were not uncommon, but that they had not 

 seen so extensire an occurrence of the trouble. Mr. Douglas thought 

 that cold winds in the spring were a possible cause. Mr. Massee, Y.M.H., 

 took the fruits for further examination. See p. Ix. 



Silver-leaf in Apple. — Mr. Pickering also reported that upon the 

 trunk of the apple tree in Devonshire, which he had previously mentioned 

 as being affected with silver-leaf, the fungus Stercmn purpnreum, which 

 is so often, if not invariably, associated with the disease, had made its 

 appearance. 



