Clxxxiv PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
usual, and I have watched the emergence of the mite from this 
egg. I have only recently noticed the smooth eggs. The im¬ 
mature insects are very sluggish, the mature ones decidedly 
active. They attack the young leaves only. As each bud 
unfolds they move up on to it, deserting the older leaves, which, 
however, are permanently injured. The attack of the mite 
imparts a brown scaly character to the leaf cuticle, which per¬ 
sists throughout its life. When the unopened leaf-bud is 
attacked, the punctures are concentrated upon the groove and 
the infolded edges. This forms a permanent scar, appearing 
like a strong sub-lateral nervure on the expanded leaf.” 
Mr. Michael observed that the mite was one of the Tarso- 
nymi, a group only lately known, but proving to be great 
destroyers of vegetation— e.g. the Box-trees in the Turin Botanic 
Garden were all destroyed in one season. Professor Canastrini, 
of Padua, discovered that the mite bored beneath the epidermis 
of the leaf. Another species attacks the Sugar-canes of Barbados, 
where it is less injurious, though fresh Canes swarmed with the 
Tarsonymi. Few species are known as yet, but they are very 
destructive. They are extremely minute, and have consequently 
escaped detection until the last few years. 
Dahlia crossed with the Sunflower. —Mr. Lowe, F.R.S., sent 
fresh examples of his supposed hybrid. They were very much 
arrested in growth and malformed, but they would otherwise be 
regarded as Dahlias. It may be observed that M. Martin 
Cahuzac attempted to cross the Dahlia with the Chrysanthemum, 
but in his case, as with Mr. Lowe, the supposed hybrid did not 
appear to be very marked. {Gardeners' Chronicle , Dec. 11, 1897, 
p. 417.) 
Pear-within-Pear. —Mr. W. J. Clarke, Manor House, Ben- 
brook, Market Rasen, sent an example of this not uncommon 
monstrosity, and Mr. Bennet-Poe brought another example. The 
Pear has no core, but in its place the apical bud develops into 
another pseudo-Pear ; the terminal bud then attempts to produce 
a third or more; finally a tuft of small leaves at the top repre¬ 
sents the still growing terminal bud. 
Pyrus crenata. —Dr. Masters remarked that this tree is 
peculiar for retaining its large and handsome leaves for a time, 
after most other deciduous trees have shed theirs. The leaf 
exhibited was from a tree in a garden at Ealing. It is a native 
