Ixxii PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



all probability with F. acmopetala, F. Ehvesii, and F. j^ontica, all of 

 which came from Asia Minor. Other species shown were F. Whittallii, 

 F. Kotschyana, F. messanensis, and F, pallidiflora. 



Deodars dying suddenly. — Mr. Elwes remarked that his attention 

 had recently been called to several deodars, of considerable size, which 

 had died quite suddenly. The trouble could not be attributed to uncon- 

 genial soil or to climate, and nothing seemed to be known as to the cause. 

 Mr. Worsley said that he had known of similar sudden death in Sequoia, 

 Lihocedrus, and Biota. 



Change under Cultivation. — Mr. Elwes showed flowers of a Bomarea 

 in order to illustrate the great changes occurring in a species when brought 

 under cultivation. He collected the seeds at Rio Janeiro, and the plants 

 when raised bore quite small flowers, but now the flowers were very much 

 larger, and differed in colour, and the leaves greatly exceeded the originals 

 in size. The plants, however, which had been kept in pots, still bore 

 small leaves and flowers. The species had been determined to B. edulis, 

 but after cultivation it nearly approached B. Carderi in appearance. 



Scientific Committee, May 15, 1906. 



Dr. M. T. Mastees, F.R.S., in the Chair, and eleven members present, 

 with M. P. de Vilmorin visitor. 



Beetles on Pine. — Mr. Saunders, F.L.S., reported that the trees from 

 Brandon Park shown at the last meeting are attacked by the pine beetle, 

 Hylurgus piniperda. The best thing that can be done is to go carefully 

 through the plantation and pull up and burn every tree that shows the 

 least signs of being infested by this insect. The grubs, which do far more 

 harm to the trees than the parent beetle, cannot be reached without 

 barking the trees. It is certain that this insect does not attack healthy 

 trees unless there are no dead or dying ones for them to breed in ; so that 

 in a plantation, when a tree begins to show signs of want of vitality, it 

 should at once be removed. 



Injured Vine Leaves. — Mr. Massee, V.M.H., said concerning those 

 referred to him at the last meeting : — " There is no specific injury caused 

 by fungi or insects. The discoloration is due to sunlight falhng on 

 leaves covered in places with a film of moisture. Ventilation in the early 

 morning would prevent this." 



Coloured Tendrils of Sweet Peas. — Referring to this matter, raised at 

 the last meeting by Mr. Cuthbertson, Mr. Bateson, F.R.S., writes : — " We 

 have kept note of this character as far as possible in our work. The red 

 tendrils are (? always) associated with red in the axils of the leaves. In 

 our records we have spoken of this feature as * dark axil,' the opposite as 

 ' light axil.' The * dark axil ' character may be present in any sweet pea, 

 whether the flowers are coloured or white, but it is not developed unless the 

 flower is m some degree coloured, we believe. There are * whites ' with 

 dark axils, e.g. the black-seeded form of * Mrs. Sankey ' ; but we think 

 the whitest of such flowers always have a trace of colour in the keel. At 

 all events, there is no dark-axil plant which does not have a black seed- 

 coat." 



