CCXVl PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Loddigesii, and that, in fact, the names of the two species had been 

 transposed, as was sometimes the case in gardens. 



Laeliocattleya x amanda, Rchh. f. and L.-c. x Verelii, Rolfe. — Mr. 

 Eolfe also exhibited flowers of these two natural hybrids, remarking 

 that they were originally confused under the former name. • The first, 

 however, was from Laelia Boothiana and Cattleya intermedia, the latter 

 from L. Boothiafia and C. Forhesii, as was evident from the strong red 

 veining on the disc of the lip. All three species were known to grow 

 together in the neighbourhood of Eio de Janeiro. The two hybrids 

 were in flower at Kew, that of L.-c. x amanda being from a batch raised 

 by himself by crossing L. Boothiana and C. intermedia, with a view to 

 proving the parentage. Paintings of some of the plants in question 

 were also shown. 



Pollination in Orchards. — Mr, 0. H. Hooper gave an outline of his 

 observations on pollination in orchards (p. 531), which confirmed those, 

 of others that cross-pollination was necessary in the majority of cases in 

 order that fruit should be produced. Mr. Worsley pointed out that a 

 certain temperature was necessary for the shedding of pollen in many 

 instances, and if this were not attained, infertility might result. Mr. 

 Chittenden said that certain of the varieties Mr. Hooper had found not 

 to set fruit without the aid of foreign pollen, he had found would do 

 so, and suggested that in order to settle the cases in which only nega- 

 tive evidence was available, it was necessary to repeat the experiment 

 several times, for there was great difficulty in eliminating many other 

 factors which contributed to unfruitfulness. 



Bitter-pit in Apples. — Among the numerous diseased plants sent 

 for examination were several specimens of apples attacked by " bitter- 

 pit." This disease is particularly prevalent, even among hard-fleshed 

 apples, this season. It is characterized by numerous brown spots in 

 the flesh at varying depths below the surface, and having, as a rule, 

 no connexion with surface injury in any way. No fungi or bacteria 

 have been found connected with it, and it appears to be a disease of 

 physiological origin rather than due to any parasite. The dead, brown 

 cells contain starch, whereas in the rest of the flesh the starch has 

 been converted into sugar. It would therefore appear that the depth 

 of the cells probably took place before the ripening process had pro- 

 ceeded so far as the conversion of starch into sugar, and may possibly 

 be due to an accumulation of a poisonous substance in the cells through 

 interference with the water supply. 



Scientific Committee, November 7, 1911. 



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

 eighteen members present. 



Octomcria, sp. — ^Dr. Eendle, F.E.S., reported that the Octoiueria 

 referred to him, and shown under the name Octomeria Baueri, did not 



