Ixiv PEOCEEDINGS OF THE EOYAL HOKTICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 



of N. iMnceps. He also said that he had been able to select from those 

 he had grown two pale-yellow selfs, another with segments almost as 

 white as in Horsfieldii, another having much bigger bulbs than is usual 

 in JV. jyrincejjs, and still another which retains its foliage when all others 

 have disappeared, all these being apparently sports from N. jjrincejjs. 

 In addition to this, a sport has been selected having a frilled rim to the 

 corona : this has proved constant, and the stock is increasing. 



Oranges decaying. — Mr. Chittenden reported that some navel oranges 

 had been received from the Western Orchards Produce Company, with 

 the request for some information as to the cause of the rot that had 

 set in. He had reported that the oranges are attacked by the fungus 

 Pcnicillium, a frequent cause of loss with oranges. The trouble usually 

 appears after the oranges are packed and on their way to England, and 

 this appears to have been the case with those sent. Navel oranges are 

 very frequently attacked, the open eye of this fruit forming a convenient 

 place for the entry of the minute fungus spores ; sometimes, indeed, they 

 are infected before they leave the orchard, but more frequently in the 

 packing-house. After packing, the disease may spread throughout a box 

 from one fruit to the next. 



The conditions for the growth of a fungus such as this are, particularly, 

 the presence of moisture, warmth, and a suitable substance upon which 

 to grow. In the navel orange a drop of water will often condense in the 

 open end, and there the fungus finds a very suitable place for growth. 



The best means of preventing the growth of the fungus in the fruits 

 appear to be as follows : — (1) Wrapping fruits in tissue paper, a means 

 which, combined with some amount of ventilation in the boxes, has 

 proved, within certain limits, valuable as a preventive of decay. (2) Careful 

 destruction of decaying fruit (by deep burial or by fire) in the orchard or 

 the packing-house, since by this means the number of spores likely to be 

 floating in the air will be greatly reduced. (3) This should be combined 

 with disinfection of the packing-houses, either by thorough drying, by 

 whitewashing, or by burning sulphur therein. 



Galls on Bramble. — Dr. Masters showed, on behalf of Mr. Nicholson, 

 galls on bramble very similar to those shown at the last meeting on ash 

 and birch, and caused, like them, by a species of mite, Eriophyes. 



Palm Leaves diseased. — Dr. Masters also showed some leaves of a 

 palm apparently attacked by a fungus, which Mr. Massee took to examine. 

 See p. Ixvi. 



Primula sinensis malformed. — Mr. Odell showed specimens of this 

 plant (intermediate between the stellata group and the ordinary sinensis) 

 having green or purple flowers in which the calyx had become foliose, 

 the ovary had grown into a tube, but contained no ovules, while the 

 stamens were present. Dr. Masters took them for further examination. 

 See p. Ixvi. 



Pelargonium Leaves diseased. — Mr. Massee said that the leaves 

 Mr. W^orsley had shown at the last meeting were not attacked by a 

 fungus, but that the brown spots upon them had evidently been produced 

 by a concentration of water at these points owing to an interference with 

 proper transpiration. Chlorosis had also occurred. It was found that 

 watering with a 1 per cent, solution of sulphate of iron and the standing 



