CXXXV111 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE. 
Dr. Maxwell T. Masters, F.E.S., in the Chair. 
Insects in Welwitschia. —Mr. MacLachlan reported that the 
insect found in the Welwitschia had been submitted by him 
to a specialist, who pronounced it to he Oclontopus sexpunctatus; 
its nearest ally in this country was Pyrrhocoris apt era, a plant¬ 
feeding hug, occasionally found in Devonshire, hut in profusion 
over the Continent. It was a singular circumstance that the 
English specimens but seldom develop wings. Mr. Edgeworth 
remarked that bugs of this character are very common in India, 
especially on species of Asclepias, which are very poisonous to 
other creatures. 
Insects in Grape Vines from Peru. — Mr. MacLachlan reported 
that, after cutting up the pieces of Vine wood, his opinion was 
confirmed that the insects found were the results rather than 
the cause of the disaster. There were two species, both members 
of the order Bostrichidee, the larger one being a Bostrichus, the 
smaller a Bhizopertha; he exhibited specimens which were still 
alive; he had also found some of the larvae alive in the wood. 
Both these insects fed upon dead vegetable matter rather than 
living. They are found in this country feeding upon dead wood, 
and it was more than doubtful if the insects were therefore the 
cause of the damage. 
Insects in Bamboo .—Mr. MacLachlan stated that the larvae 
attacking Bamboos in India, as forwarded by Mr. Routledge, 
were those of a boring beetle belonging to the Bostricliidce. He 
had sent them to the British Museum, but had not been 
able to ascertain the species. Mr. MacLachlan received the 
thanks of the Committee for the valuable information he had 
afforded. 
The Coffee Disease .—Dr. M. C. Cooke alluded to the measures 
taken in Ceylon to destroy the fungus (Hemileia vastatrix), and 
which promised to he successful. Dr. Cooke had recommended 
the use of sulphur, as used in the case of the Vine and Hop 
mildew, and stated his belief that its use in this case would soon 
entirely destroy the fungus. He also recommended, with the use 
of sulphur, a thorough cleansing of the ground beneath. Dr. 
Masters thought that this information was most interesting to 
