SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE. 



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diseased in one scale, the mites were feeding on the limit of the decay. 

 Larvae of Eumerus strigatus were found in some only of the bulbs, and 

 in some, but not all, fungi were growing. There were no chlamydo- 

 spores of Fusarium ' present, nor was any fungus fruiting except 

 Penicillium. An effort was made to get fruit of the fungi present, but 

 Fusarium was not developed. No eelworms were found in these 

 examples. Mr. Chittenden said he had also examined some bulbs 

 sent by the Rev. J. Jacob which were infested by the eelworm Tylenchus 

 devastatrix just as were those shown last year. 



Gruhs feeding on rosebuds. — Mr. Chittenden also reported that 

 Dr. Lefroy had identified the small insects feeding on the rosebuds 

 recently inserted as Perrisia rosaria. Little is known concerning this 

 two-winged fly, but Messrs. Merrick, the senders, attribute a consider- 

 able amount of damage to its attacks. 



Parasite on Magpie Moth. — Mr. E. M. Holmes, F.L.S., showed an 

 ichneumon fly bred out from the chrysalids of Abraxas grossulariata, 

 the magpie moth, at Sevenoaks. It had been identified at the 

 British Museum as Stenichneumon scutellata, a very uncommon species. 

 Mr. Holmes also showed some scale insects on Bay which await 

 identification. 



Geum ' Mrs. Bradshaw.' — Mrs. Welch, of Reigate, Surrey, sent a 

 curious form of Geum with the perianth pieces green, tipped with red, 

 about twenty in number, and separated by a considerable distance 

 from the carpels. The flower was attacked by aphides, but whether 

 their presence was the cause of the trouble or only a coincidence 

 cannot be stated. Mrs. Welch said " the plant flowered beautifufly 

 and true last year ; this year only blooms like the enclosed have been 

 produced. The plant has not been moved, and appears to be perfectly 

 healthy." 



Nettle Leaf in Currants. — Affected specimens were shown by Mr. 

 Edward A. Bunyard. He suggested that the so-called reversion is 

 caused by the production of lateral branches, owing to some injury to 

 the terminal bud, the Black Currant mite being probably the principal 

 cause. A series of shoots were shown, which had been cut while 

 in growth at different heights. Those which had been stopped at 

 2 inches from the base of the shoot showed laterals with the leaf 

 reduced in size ; those, however, which were stopped at some 14 inches 

 showed the numerous lateral shoots and much cut leaves associated 

 with this deformity. It was pointed out that the normal method 

 of cultivation of the Black Currant consists in the production of 

 shoots from the base, which are frequently replaced, and by this 

 means only can large fruit be produced. If the spur system of growth 

 is tried, the fruit in a few years will become small and worthless. 

 Any injury which promotes the formation of these spurs will therefore 

 result in fruit of reduced size. It was suggested by the Chairman 

 that cuttings from the side shoots showing the deformed leaves should 

 be taken, and if under good culture they produced normal leaves, 

 it would confirm this view. 



