SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE, MAY 9. 



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tendency has overpowered the other (or multiphcative). The two 

 lateral sepals have fused into a single one in the anterior median plane, 

 but this sepal is triple, and the middle lobe may represent the third 

 sepal-like petal of the second flower referred to, and this is very likely : 

 in which case it would not be accurate to speak of fusion of two sepals. 

 There are two labella, one of which is much smaller than the other and 

 has its stalk completely fused with the column. The column is double, 

 but the anthers are much more closely approximated than in the last 

 two flowers (an interesting fact as showing the fusing process). The 

 sepals are more petal-like and larger than usual, as is natural. In the 

 fourth flower the reduction and fusion tendency is all-potent ; the flower 

 is 2-merous. It has two sepals (anterio-posterior), the anterior one 

 being very large, owing to fusion of the two normal lateral ones; two 

 lateral petals 'larger than normal, doubtless correlated with the complete 

 absence of the labellum. The absence of the latter must be attributed 

 either to abortion or to congenital and intimate fusion with the column 

 (an analogy for such a fusion exists in the third flower, and the column 

 has its lateral petaloid appendages larger than usual). The ovary 

 appears to be normal. A very interesting fact is that the bracts sub- 

 tending two or three of the flowers showing positive dedouhlement are 

 double, having two tips and two midribs. In such cases the splitting 

 tendency is very powerful, and if it went further would result in the 

 formation of two flowers side by side ; these then might become spatially 

 separated in a vertical direction on the axis of the spike. 



The structure of the dimerous flower has probably, from a morpho- 

 logical point of view, nothing whatever to do with the malformations, 

 but, physiologically, there may be a connexion. Exigencies of nutri- 

 tion may demand that, if some flowers have an extra number of organs 

 to be fed, other flowers must not be supplied with so many organs, 

 economy in the spike-household being thus maintained." 



Fasciated Asparagus. — Canon Fowler showed a fasciated and 

 contorted stem of Asparagus, about 1^ inch in diameter. 



Tulip Disease. — Canon Fowler also showed specimens of Tulips 

 with numerous brown blotches upon their leaves. This disease appears 

 to be caused by the Botrytis form of a species of Sclerotiriia. When 

 the attack is a bad one, the fungus forms black sclerotia near and about 

 the top of the bulbs, between them and in the soil, and by these the 

 disease is continued into the next year. The spread of the disease may 

 be checked by spraying with potassium sulphide, but it is well to com- 

 pletely remove and destroy badly-diseased plants, to plant in fresh 

 soil, and to discard any bulbs showing traces of the sclerotia (which 

 vary in size from a pin's head to a pea) when planting is done in the 

 autumn. 



Twin- flowered Daffodils.— Mr. Shea showed several varieties ot 

 Narcissus having two flowers in place of the normal one, and a speci- 

 men was sent from Darlington of a form of N. poeticus with three 

 flowers. Several members remarked upon the common appearance of 

 this phenomenon this season. 



