BCTENTIFKI COMMTTTr^E , OCTOBER 11. 



cexlix 



anatomical specimens shown by him last year. (See vol. xxxv. 

 p. ccxxiii.) The section was immersed in a fluid which rendered it 

 practically transparent, and made its structure throughout evident to the 

 eye, although the specimen was about ^ inch thick. The mixture of 

 oils and ethers, &c., which renders this mode of preparation possible, is 

 the discovery of Professor Werner Spalteholz, of Leipzig University. 



Oak galls. — Mr. J. Fraser showed a number of Oak galls from the 

 common Oak, and commented upon the variety that may be found 

 even upon a single leaf. 



Variations in Rye Grass. — Mr. Fraser also showed some specimens 

 of Lolium multiflorum ( = L. italicufn), which he had collected on a 

 rubbish heap, to illustrate the wide variation in the form of the 

 inflorescence of this species. One of them had the spikelets set very 

 close together on the rachis, and was apparently the form cristatum 

 of 0. T. Timm a rare form analogous to Lolium perenne var. cris- 

 tatum, which is much more common. Another had a branched spike 

 with two or three empty glumes at the base of each branch and scarcely- 

 awned outer glumes, appearing to be a hybrid, probably between Lolium 

 multiflorum and Festuca prateMsis. 



Variation in Acer. — From Mr. Beamish, of Glounthaune, Co. Cork, 

 came a specimen of the Japanese Maple ' Likonishke,' with branches 

 showing very much the character of the stock upon which it had been 

 grafted, arising considerably above the place of grafting. It was 

 thought probable that the variation might be due to the tendency of 

 the variety To vary. 



Frost injury. — The Secretary produced a draft of the report on the 

 damage done by frost during the winter 1908-9. (See p. 358.) 



Scientific Committee, October 11, 1910, 



Mr. E. A. Bowles, M.A., F.L.S., F.E.S., in the Chair, and 

 thirteen members present. 



Buds on leaves. — Mr. Worsdell, F.L.S., showed leaves of Ver- 

 hascum. nigrum affected by some disease, now under investigation, 

 which causes the production of numerous adventitious buds around the 

 margins of the leaves. Masses of small buds are also produced around 

 the base of the stem. 



Lycoris aurea, do. — Mr. Worsley showed a flowering spike of the 

 Chinese Lycoris aurea, which he found succeeded and flowered well when 

 planted out in a house. He also showed flowers of the South African 

 Composite, Cryptostemma calendulaceum , which is very sensitive to 

 frost, but which ripens seed eaiiy, and so succeeds in maintaining 

 itself. 



Modified flowers of Erica cinerea. — Mr. Bowles showed, on behalf 

 of Mr. L. E. Eussell, of Eichmond, a form of Erica cinerea in which 

 the flowers were replaced by deep red groups of closely packed leaves 

 arranged in fours, as in the flowers of normal plants, not in threes, as 

 the foliage leaves are usually. The case was similar to that described 



