SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE, FEBRUARY 13 



]xi 



in small clusters. The plant belongs to the Urticacece, and the fruits are 

 edible, but are not much appreciated." It was figured in the " Revue 

 Horticole," 1896, p. 321. 



Hcemanthus magnificiLS, — This plant, with a large head of pinkish 

 flowers, was shown by Mr. Hudson. 



Tulip ^ Proserpine.'— '^Ir. Horne, of Thurstaston, near Birkenhead, 

 sent two examples of this tulip, each of which bore three flowers, one, 

 as usual, terminal, and one springing from the axil of each of the upper 

 two foliage leaves. The production of more than one flower on a stem of 

 tulip is not very unusual. 



Scientific Committee, February 13, 1906. 

 Dr. M. C. Cooke, V.M.H., in the Chair, and eighteen members present. 



Apples with Median Lateral Groove. — In reference to these shown 

 on January 9 by Mr. Spencer Pickering, Mr. G. S. Saunders, F.L.S., 

 showed figures of some fruits collected some time ago at Cheltenham 

 deformed in a similar manner, except that the groove ran round the 

 apple in a spiral manner. 



Grubs in Stem of Common Laurel. — From R. W. Bourne, Esq., of 

 Bishopstoke, came specimens of insects taken from the stem of the 

 common laurel, and branches showing aerial roots from the surface 

 similar to those so frequently found in this shrub when grown in damp 

 close situations. Mr. Bourne stated that the grub, which was small and 

 white, but later brown, " appeared to work upwards and to kill the branch 

 by destroying the inner part of the bark, the leaves on the attacked 

 branches turning yellow and dying. Branches about 1^ inch or more 

 in diameter are usually attacked." Mr. G. S. Saunders reported that 

 the laurels are attacked by the larvae of a small moth, one of the 

 Tortricince, most probably Semasia luceheriana ; but the insects cannot be 

 the direct cause of the outgrowths, as they are found on pieces of the 

 shoots which are not attacked by the caterpillars, but they are probably 

 formed indirectly from ibis cause. The burrows of the larvae may weaken 

 the branches to some extent by cutting off the food and water supply, 

 and they may in self-defence, as it were, start these adventitious roots. 



Galls on Ash. — Mr. G. Nicholson showed terminal growths of ash 

 which had been malformed and caused to produce numerous lateral and 

 adventitious buds through the attacks of the mite Eriophyes fraxini. 

 This particular gall appears more rare than many caused by the attacks 

 of other members of the genus. 



Vims attacked by Weevils. — Dr. Masters drew attention to some 

 young shoots of vine which had just started, but which had been bitten 

 completely through by a weevil, probably Otiorhynchus sulcatus. 



PelargoniiLm diseased. — Mr. Worsley showed leaves of a zonal 

 pelargonium which were spotted with numbers of small brown dry 

 spots. Mr. Worsley said that the disease spreads rapidly, and that 

 eventually the plant died as a result of the attack, ^fr. Massee, V.M.H., 

 took the leaves to examine further. See p. Ixiv. Mr. Worsley also 

 showed some mealy bugs which had come from Jamaica with bananas. 

 Mr. Saunders took them to examine. See p. Ixiii. 



