SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE, NOVEMBER 6. 



XCl 



the dahlia in most respects, but had two small horns on each. Dr. 

 Rendle will report upon this at the next meeting. 



Diseased Fruits dc. — Several specimens of diseased apples, pears, 

 potatoes. Sec. were received and dealt with. 



Scientific Committee, November 6, 1906. 

 Dr. M. T. Masters, F.R.S., in the Chair, and twelve members present. 



Mites oil Ferns. — Referring to the fronds of Fteris serridata sent to 

 the last meeting, Mr. Saunders, F.L.S., reported that they were evidently 

 attacked by the mite Tarsonynius tepidariorum, but he was only able to 

 find a few cast skins. The mites had probably been killed by the fumi- 

 gation or by the dipping the plants had undergone. 



Reputed Wild Dahlia. — Dr. Rendle reported that the plant shown at 

 the last meeting, raised from seed alleged to be that of the wild dahlia, 

 was Bidcns tripartita. 



Galls on Boots of Vine dc. — Mr. G. S. Saunders showed galls on 

 the roots of vine caused by Fhylloxera. He also showed fruits of Cra- 

 tcegus Pyracantha, apparently affected by a fungus, which will be further 

 examined, and a dra^ving of a double banana fruit. The fruit had 

 appeared single, but when the skin was removed was seen to be double. 



Malformed Floivers of Plantain. — Mr. E. M. Holmes showed spikes 

 of Plantago major very much branched, and having some of the flowers 

 converted into small foliage leaves. 



IVoljfia Michelii. — Mr. G. Nicholson, V.M.H., showed plants of IVolffia 

 Michelii syn. arrhiza, a native of South-east England and other parts of 

 Europe, the smallest of the flowering plants appearing like small grains 

 of green sand. 



Fruits of Periploca and Ficus repens. — Dr. Masters showed fruits of 

 the shrub Periploca grceca from Mr. Cutbush, of Highgate ; and Mr. 

 Chittenden showed fruits of Ficus repens from Mr. Hammond, of Wid- 

 ford, Chelmsford, under whose care the plant fruits freely. 



Mussel Scale on Apple. — k letter concerning this pest was received 

 from J. B. Dowson, Esq., of Pershore, who said he had used the winter 

 wash against it in vain in the previous year, the pest having increased 

 enormously during the past season. It was recommended that the trunks 

 of the trees and the thicker branches should be scrubbed with paraffin 

 emulsion during the winter, and the trees sprayed with the same (of 

 course of much less strength) in June of next year. 



Acorns of Quercus rubra. — Mr. C. Parrott, of Springfield Park, Clap- 

 ton, sent ripe acorns of Quercus rubra to show that this oak perfects its 

 fruit in this country. This oak, like Q. coccinea, perfects its fruit in the 

 second year after flowering, and both perfect and partially developed 

 fruits are to be found upon the same tree. 



Botanical Certificate. — An inflorescence of the orchid Bonatea 

 Ugaiidce, Rolfe, was shown by Mr. Brown, of Haverfield Gardens, Kew. 



This new plant was introduced by Mr. E. Brown from Uganda, East 

 Africa, about two years ago, when he sent li^dng tubers to Kew. It 

 eventually flowered, and proved to be a new species, and was named 



