SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE, JULY 26. 



xlvii 



Vegetable Marroiu malformed. — Mr. Henslow showed a 

 specimen in which a lateral branch had flattened out, and was 

 adherent to the side of a fruit some 5 inches in length. At the 

 summit of the latter a leaf was given off, as well as another 

 branch similarly adherent to a second fruit of about 2 inches 

 in length. At the summit of this was also a leaf, together 

 with a normal flower-bud. In addition to the last-mentioned 

 youngest fruit there was also a second growing from the apex 

 of the first or lowermost fruit. This was about 4 inches in 

 length, quite free, and normal in character. By the side of 

 this was a young branch with leaves, buds, and tendrils, all un- 

 developed, and apparently quite normal. 



Scientific Committee, Octobek 4, 1892. 



Dr. M. T. Mastees in the Chair, and nine members present. 



Bouillie Bordelaise. — With reference to this preparation, Mr. 

 Morris stated that it had been thought advisable by some persons 

 to water the soil with it, and M. Cornu, as recorded in his letter 

 read at the last meeting, appeared to favour this view. It was, 

 however, the general opinion of the members present that this 

 procedure would undoubtedly sterilise the soil, and so prove 

 highly injurious by arresting nitrification. Some further discus- 

 sion arose with reference to the best manner of knowing when 

 the bouillie was in a proper state for application, as several 

 failures in its use had resulted from the copper salt being still 

 present in the solution. Dr. Eussell, as recorded at the last 

 meeting, appeared to rely upon the absence of a blue colour 

 when 2 or 3 inches in depth of the clear fluid was looked 

 through ; another suggestion, made by Dr. Miiller, being the 

 application of a small quantity of liquid ammonia. If there be 

 any copper present the bouillie would become blue. Professor 

 Church remarked that although all the sulphate of copper might 

 be changed into the hydrated oxide, yet if any small quantity of 

 the latter be left suspended in the liquid, and not entirely precipi- 

 tated, the blue colour would still appear on the addition of 

 ammonia. The simplest and most efficacious test would be to 

 place a piece of clean iron {e.g. a knife-blade free from grease) 



