SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE, JULY 30. 



cxxiii 



the composition of the fumes were accountable for the unusual damage. 

 The specimens were referred to Dr. Voelcker. 



Variation in Black Currant Boskoop Giant. — Mr. Ohas. Pearson 

 sent shoots of black Currant ' Boskoop Giant ' to illustrate a variation 

 which had suddenly arisen in several localities. In the sport the leaves 

 become much more dentate and the bushes fail to fruit. Sometimes 

 only a portion of the bush is so affected, but frequently the whole, and 

 in one plantation 50 per cent, of the bushes showed the variation. The 

 Committee would welcome any observations that would throw light 

 upon the phenomenon. It has been suggested that possibly hard pruning 

 may have brought about the result, but there is no record so far of 

 recovery to the normal form. 



Eria rhyncostyloides. — A botanical certificate was unanimously 

 recommended to this beautiful, though small-flowered Orchid, native of 

 Java, exhibited by Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., V.M.H. 



Certificate of Appreciation. — A Certificate of Appreciation was recom- 

 mended to Messrs. Charleswortli, Hay wards Heath, on the suggestion 

 of the Orchid Committee, for work done in raising Odontoma x * Edna, ' 

 exhibited at Holland House Show. The plant is a hybrid between 

 Miltonia Warscewiczii and Odonioglossum Wilckeanum, and has white 

 flowers blotched with brownish-orange. 



Scientific Committee, July 30, 1912. 



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



members present. 



Injury from smelter fumes. — Dr. Voelcker, M.A., reported that 

 the leaves sent to him from the last meetin^g were damaged by smelter 

 fumes, and probably by hydrochloric and sulphuric acids in the fumes. 

 Zinc and manganese were also present. 



Hybrid Orchid. — Mr. O'Brien, V.M.H. , drew attention to a hybrid 

 Orchid, Brassocattleya x * Thetis, ' shown by Messrs. J. Veitch. It 

 was raised between Brassavola Dighyana and Cattleya Aclandiae, but 

 practically all the spotting of the latter species had been eliminated by 

 the cross. 



Caterpillars on Hops. — Mr. Holmes, F.L.S., remarked upon 

 damage done to Hops by the larvse of the peacock Butterfly, Vanessa 

 lo, in Herefordshire; Vanessa C-alhum frequently damages them, but 

 he had no doubt whatever that in this case V . lo was the culprit. 



Mimulus moschatus almost scentless. — Mr. Hill, M.A., showed 

 specimens of Mimulus moschatus to draw attention to the almost 

 scentless condition of the plants. It would appear that under certain 

 ;, cultural conditions this plant fails to produce in any great quantity the 

 ! essential oil to which its characteristic odour is due. 



Delphinium macrocentron. — ^Mr. Bartholomew, of Eeading, sent a 

 I specimen of this uncommon species of Delphinium from his garden. 

 I It is a native of Uganda and is somewhat poorly figured in Bot. Mag. 

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