XXXii PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



soluble in water. It is certainly not the wood of Machihis Thunhergii, 

 as has been suggested, for that belongs to the Lauraceae. 



Algae in water tank. — Dr. Voelcker showed some small, rather 

 leathery, masses of Algae, which had been taken from a cement tank, 

 on the sides of which they had grown. The presence of the Algae, 

 which proved to belong to a species of Phormidium, rendered the water 

 unpleasant to drink. It was suggested that the tank should be covered, 

 as the Algae would not develop in the dark, or that a weak solution of 

 copper sulphate should be added to the water. 



Lilac snorting. — Messrs. Paul showed a white-flowered Lilac with 

 two bunches of lilac flowers and one bunch of white at the end of one 

 of the branches, affording a somewhat remarkable case of a white flower 

 sporting to lilac. 



This interesting occurrence may probably be explained on the basis 

 that white Lilac is — as is the case with many white varieties of Primula 

 sinensis — a dominant white. That is, that it is carrying colour which 

 is prevented from showing owing to the presence of an inhibiting factor. 

 The reappearance of the Lilac colour is to be attributed to segregation in 

 the bud, of dominant white character from colour character, the latter 

 only being represented in the coloured flowers. 



Malformed Beech. — Mr. Fawcett, F.L.S., showed a branch of a 

 Beech from Tunbridge Wells having several large, smooth swellings 

 upon it. A section through one of them showed that the middle 

 portions were quite dark brown, and that there were dark streaks in 

 the wood. No fungus mycelium, however, could be discovered. 



Suckers on Plums, etc. — Mr. Fraser, F.L.S., showed specimens 

 illustrating the development of suckers on Plum roots. He pointed out 

 that the first sign of a sucker appearing is a swelling on the root. On 

 this swelling, scale leaves, rather thick in texture, arise, and later the 

 little bud develops into a shoot. He suggested that, in order to avoid 

 the development of suckers^ seedling Plums should be used for budding, 

 and not suckers. 



Fasciated Asparagus. — Mr. Arkwright, D.L., M.P., showed a 

 remarkable specimen of fasciated Asparagus measuring about 2 inches 

 across and somewhat spirally twisted. Fasciation is common in this 

 plant, but it is seldom that such a large specimen is met with. 



Rehmannia x.Briscoei (fig. 69).- — Mr. H. J. Veitch, V.M.H., 

 showed a hybrid between Rehmannia angulata (of commerce) ? and 

 R. Henryi ^. The hybrid had been raised by Mr. Briscoe, after 

 whom it was named. The parents were also shown, for comparison. 

 The hybrid was in most characters intermediate between its parents, 

 being dwarf er than R. angulata (of commerce), but having an erect 

 inflorescence instead of a condensed one, as in the pollen parent. The 

 flowers were intermediate in colour and of a pleasing soft pink. The 

 leaves were arranged in a rosette, and were similar in shape to those 

 of R. Henryi, and had the same dark veinings, while they were much 

 more velvety-hairy than those of R. angulata, ihongh. a httle less so than 

 those of R. Henryi. 



