xl PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Gall on Salix babylonica. — Mr. W. B. Gingell sent a gall similar 
to those which occurred on Willows in Essex in 1906, and then 
shown before the Scientific Committee, cut from Salix babylonica 
in Dulwich Park. The gall consists of innumerable short shoots 
arising close together so as to form a dense mass of thin growths, 
which in winter look almost like derelict birds'-nests hanging in the 
trees. It is probably caused by a mite, and has spread rapidly all 
over the London district. 
Scientific Committee, January 25, 1916. 
Mr. E. A. Bowles, M.A., F.L.S., F.E.S., in the Chair, and 
eleven members present. 
Apple Fruit Spot. — Dr. Home showed cultures on Apple agar 
of various fungi, which he had isolated from minute brown spots 
on Apple fruits. One of them had fruited, proving to be a species 
of Stemphylium, producing conidia, sclerotia, and pycnidia similar 
to those found on the Apple. The fungi associated with the spot 
appeared to vary from year to year. 
Gall on Rhododendron. — Mr. J. Fraser, F.L.S., showed a further 
specimen of the fungus gall on the Indian Azalea, which has been 
before the Committee on several occasions, due to the fungus Exo- 
basidium japonicum, and which has appeared with increasing frequency 
since its introduction about 1906. Picking off the galls and burning 
them is sufficient to keep it in check. 
Germination of Vallota purpurea. — Mr. H. J. Elwes, F.R.S., drew 
attention to the curious germination of the seeds of Vallota purpurea. 
The seeds, which were sown on the surface and fully exposed to the 
light, sent out the usual germination process, from the apex of which 
roots were developed. All the reserve food passed from the seed to 
the apex of the process, which became green and swelled before any 
leaves were developed (fig. 31). In all probability food was made 
during this stage of germination. In several cases in allied plants 
the formation of chlorophyll is normal in seeds. 
Osage Orange Fruiting. — Mr. C. H. Curtis showed a fruit of the 
Osage Orange, which had ripened in a Suffolk garden. Madura 
aurantiaca rarely fruits in this country, although the plant is hardy. 
The present fruit was rather small, and not quite yellow. In the 
United States Madura aurantiaca is an excellent hedge plant, and 
the large, yellow fruits, inedible but conspicuous, are freely produced. 
Fasciated Rose. — Mr. Allgrove, of Langley, Slough, sent a re- 
markable fasciated shoot of Rose ' Coronation ' with a flattened stem 
several inches broad. 
