xcvi PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



Siveet Williams diseased. — Mr. Chittenden reported that since the 

 last meeting he had received and examined Sweet Williams from Cob- 

 ham, Surrey, badly attacked by the fungus Pucctnia Arenarice. This 

 fungus is exceedingly destructive to these plants, and apparently spreads 

 to them from such weeds as the Chickweeds and Stitchworts, which are 

 very frequently attacked by it. Affected plants are best removed and 

 burned, as they never recover. 



Effect of Environment on Plants. — Mr. Saunders, F.L.S., showed a 

 very dwarf specimen of the thorn apple. Datura Stramonium, about 4 in. 

 in height, bearing at its apex a single small fruit. The plant had been 

 growing in a hedge. 



Fungus on Chestmtt. — Mr. Worsdell showed a piece of the bark of 

 Horse Chestnut bearing the small bright warts typical of the presence of 

 the fungus Nectria cinnabarina, so common upon dead wood, but also 

 spreading from dead wood to the living tissues of plants. 



Malformed Orchids. — Dr. Masters submitted a specimen on behalf of 

 Mr. Macbean of Odontoglossum crispum, in which all the parts of the 

 column which are usually confluent were developed, in the form of free 

 petals, resulting in the formation of a double flower. Mr. Bennett-Poe 

 showed a specimen of Vypripedium in which the dorsal sepal was 

 doubled. Dr. Masters undertook to report upon this at the next 

 meeting. 



Hybrid Orchid. — Mr. Douglas, V.M.H., showed flowers of a hybrid 

 orchid raised from seed of Lcelia harpophylla crossed with pollen of 

 L. purpurata, the only sign of the latter in the colour being a small 

 purple spot near the end of the labellum. Dr. Masters undertook to 

 report upon it further at the next meeting. 



Gooseberry Mildeiv {Sphcerotheca mors-Urvai). — A specimen of 

 the American gooseberry mildew from Worcestershire was shown by 

 Mr. Giissow. The specimen showed an abundance of the mildew and its 

 typical perithecia upon the younger parts of the branches. Mr. Hooper 

 said the disease did such great damage in Canada and in parts of the 

 United States, that the European gooseberry could not be grown there 

 with any prospect of a crop, and its cultivation had been practically 

 abandoned in America. He brought forward the following resolution 

 concerning the disease : — " That it is most desirable that the Board of 

 Agriculture should take immediate steps to promptly submit all evidence 

 obtainable on the matter of the American gooseberry mildew to a small 

 skilled commitee, for a decision 'at once as to the danger of the disease 

 spreading, and other important factors in the matter." The resolution, 

 however, was not seconded, and therefore fell to the ground. Mr. 

 Massee, V.M.H., remarked that he had visited the Evesham district, 

 and had found the mildew on gooseberries in three distinct places, and in 

 one where the bushes had been growing in a damp and sheltered place 

 the grower said, w^hen it was pointed out to him, that he had known the 

 disease for the past thirty years, and he had not imported any Continental 

 or Irish-grow^n gooseberries for that period. He thought it quite possible 

 that the disease had existed in the country for a considerable time, and 

 that since the spores were so minute it was quite likely that they would 

 be carried for a great distance by the wind or with merchandise of various 



