XXXvi PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, . 
attacked in like manner. Until within the last two 'or three weeks 
all were looking healthy and well, but just when the Cyclamens 
and Iris reticulata (which are now going off by hundreds) com¬ 
menced flowering they showed the disease. With the former the 
leaves in many cases appear healthy, but on the slightest touch sepa¬ 
rate with a portion of the foot-stalks just below the surface of the 
ground. They very soon flag and decay, whilst the corm and fibres 
look in most instances white, clear, and healthy; just so with Iris 
reticulata ; the upper portion of the leaf appears healthy, but decay 
takes place at and just below the surface ; the bulb and fibres 
appear sound. Crocuses are much the same, and Tulips and 
Hyacinths fail in the same manner when three or four inches above 
ground. The Cyclamens are in cold pits planted out, where I 
have grown them many years, and some of the plants in the same 
pits, and close to the diseased ones, are as vigorous and healthy as 
could be desired. The soil for the Iris bed was renewed this last 
autumn, consisting of virgin loam (well-decayed turf), sand, or 
road-grit, with some well-decayed stable manure; in this they 
have formerly thriven well. In the open garden Cyclamens and 
Iris reticulata appear perfectly vigorous and healthy at present, 
but Crocuses and Tulips are bad. The progress of the disease is 
very rapid. I have failed to discover any mycelium or fungus ; 
though on my soil, wherever a bit of stick or wood is decaying, it 
is very common. Vegetable matter in my Cyclamen pits has been 
carefully excluded for years. I have applied soot in some cases, 
but find no benefit.— James Atkins.” 
At the suggestion of Dr. Masters the specimens were referred 
for examination and report to a sub-committee, consisting of Eev. 
M. J. Berkeley, Dr. M. C. Cooke, W. G. Smith, and Dr. Masters. 
Diseased Gooseberries.— Dr. Masters showed, on the part of the 
Bev. H. H. D’Ombrain, shoots of Gooseberries, in which the buds 
at the lower part of the shoot were dry and shrivelled, those above 
being healthy and vigorous. 
Dr. Hogg remarked that there was no disease in this Gooseberry, 
but that the blindness was evidently caused by the vigour of the 
plant having gone off in the young shoot. It is a frequent occur¬ 
rence in old Gooseberry bushes ; the buds are not dead, but there is 
not sufficient root action to develop them. The remedy was simply to 
give manure, and so stimulate the roots, when the shoots and buds 
will develop in due course. 
Twin Apples. —Dr. Hogg showed a singular specimen from Mr, 
