XXXV111 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE. 
Sir Joseph Hooker, K.C.S.I., C.B., F.R,S., in the Chair. 
Nomenclature of Garden Plants .—Some conversation took place 
as to Dr. Masters’ paper on this subject, read at the last meeting ; 
but it was decided to postpone the discussion until the paper was 
printed and in the hands of the Fellows. 
Monstrous Vegetable Marrow .—Dr. Masters showed, on the part 
of Mr. Hepper, The Elms, Acton, a dried fruit of a Vegetable 
Marrow, raised on a long stalk, such as that which supports the 
male flower. As the specimen was now dry and detached from 
the vine, it was not possible to give the correct explanation of 
this singular specimen. 
Conopliallus ? Titanum .—Dr. Masters read a letter from 
Cav. Fenzi, of Florence, giving further details as to this 
gigantic Aroid. 
Mistleto. —Dr. Masters contributed on the part of Mr. Corderoy, 
of Blewbury, Didcot, specimens of male and female Mistleto, 
supposed by the sender to he parasitic the one upon the other ; 
the female branches are shorter and closer in habit than the 
male, which are long and whip-like. The specimens were 
referred to Rev. Geo. Henslow for examination and report. 
At one of the meetings of the committee in 1869 similar 
specimens were shown, which were considered to be illustrations 
of moncecism.* 
Dried Bananas. —Mr. G. F. Wilson exhibited specimens of 
Banana fruits, peeled and dried in the sun. The Hon. and Rev. 
J. T. Boscawen remarked that Musa Cavendishi is very nearly 
hardy. 
Beetle in Ascension .—Mr. MacLachlan reported that the beetle 
which causes great injury to the vines imported from the Cape 
of Good Hope into the Island of Ascension, was Siderodactylus 
ornatus (Pascoe), a beetle allied to Sitones. The best remedy 
was to dust the leaves with sulphur or Paris green, or putting 
a sheet or cloth around the tree and jerking the insects out 
of it. 
MoJcurrus Besin. —Dr. M. C. Cooke showed specimens of a 
substance used in India as an astringent, the source of which 
had hitherto been a subject of dispute. It has, however, been 
(See Masters’ Vegetable Teratology , p. 509.) 
