June 30, 1892, ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
491 
sturdy, and vigorous. The same may be said of the fruit houses, the 
kitchen gardens (in which were several fine ranks of early Peas), 
herbaceous borders gay with a variety of flowers, and the extensive and 
very interesting grounds, evidence of skill and good management being 
present in every department of this fine Dorsetshire gardening establish¬ 
ment.—H, W. W. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
June 21st. 
Scientific Committee. —Present : Mr. Morris (in the chair), 
Mr. McLachlan, Dr. Russell, Dr. Muller, Rev. W. Wilks, Dr. Bonavia, 
Prof. Green, and Rev. G. Henslow (Hon. Sec.). 
Tea Plant Attached by Fungus. —The fungus shown by Mr. McLachlan 
at a previous meeting proves to be Poria xylostromatoides, Peril. ; an 
undetermined specimen in the Kew herbarium, evidently the same 
species, is marked, “ The Tea Stems, Cachar, India.” The remedies 
suggested were the rubbing and scraping the stems, with the use of 
sulphur and lime. 
Carnations attached by TTylemyia Gnibs, — Mr. McLachlan ob¬ 
served that the injury to Carnations was brought to his notice last 
autumn. The grubs lived beneath the rose+te of leaves forming the 
crown of the plant, and also bored into the stem below the crown. 
The perfect female insect having been now obtained for the 
first time it proves to be Hylemyia nigrescens, Rnd., allied to 
H. Cardui, which feeds in the flower heads of Thistles. He 
suggests hand-picking as soon as symptoms of flagging is seen 
in the Carnations. Mr. McLachlau’s note upon this subject 
will be found in the “ Entomologist Monthly Magazine ” 
(sec. ser., vol. iii., p. 135). The Committee will be glad if 
florists will observe when the Carnations appear to be first 
attacked, and record any observations they may make, in 
order to discover the best remedy in future. 
Ground Ivy Gall. —Mr. McLachlan exhibited three large 
green galls on this plant. They are due to Aulax Glechomse, 
there being .one gall fly in each. He observed that it was an 
undecided point whether galls are the result of the mechanical 
puncture, or due to some secretion by the insect, as different 
kinds of galls are sometimes produced by different broods 
of the same species—as the root-galls and “ Oak Apples ” on 
the Oak. The latter surmise appears to be most probable. 
Injury by Fog to Plants. —Professor F. Oliver has prepared 
and exhibited at the soiree of the Royal Society dried plants, 
as well as drawings, showing the injuries produced by London 
fog. Dr. Russell remarked, from some examint-tions he had 
made near the end of last year, that the amount of sulphuric 
acid in the fog was even greater than had been proved to 
exist in the air at Manchester. 
Ilushless Parley. —Dr. Bonavia exhibited specimens of 
three kinds—white, green, and dark purple coloured varieties 
from India. They were grown in Oude by the Rajah as 
curious, but were not marketable produce. He also exhibited 
a small variety of horse bean called “ Bakla,” and specimens 
of the white “gram,” a variety of Cicer arietinum. 
Megacarpcea polyandria. —Mr. Burbidge sent a specimen 
of this remarkable Crucifer. It has twelve stamens instead 
of six, every one of the usual number being doubled. The 
fruit has two unequally developed carpels, with a narrow 
dissepiment, somewhat resembling that of Penny Cress, being 
quite round and flat. It is a native of Western Thibet, 
W. Himalaya, Kumaon, at an altitude of 12,000 feet (“ FI. of 
Br. Ind.,” vol. i., p. 161). 
White Ants in France. —Communications were received 
by Mr. Morris from R. S. Warburton, Esq , of the British Vice- 
Consulate of Rochelle, respecting the ravages done by Termes 
lucifugus, a native of South Europe and North Africa. It 
was introduced about the end of the last century, and has now spread 
almost everywhere at La Rochelle. Many public and private institutions 
are in a dangerous state, as at the Prefecture the wooden beams have 
had to be replaced by iron. They have destroyed part of the archives, 
and it is found that it is useless to grow certain plants in the gardens 
(as Geraniums), as the ants consume the interior of the stalks. It has 
been found impossible to destroy or get rid of them. Dr. Muller 
remarked that they had proved very destructive to Vines in certain parts 
of France. Mr. Mc’Lachlan added that another species (T. flavipes), 
which had appeared and done much damage in Austria, has now been 
pretty well exterminated. Mr. Morris reminded the Committee that 
the white ant had once been imported to Kew in a log of the Copal tree, 
and that when old slave ships were left at St. Helena, after liberating 
the slaves, the ants soon spread over that island. 
Potato Disease., and the Use of Sulphate of Copper. —Some discussion 
arose on this subject relative to the statement that on certain occasions, 
and probably on different soils, it had proved to be less beneficial than 
expected ; and that the question had been raised whether it did not 
render the soil injurious to plant life. Drs. Muller and Russell pointed 
out that the results might be very different if there were an excess of 
the copper salt or of lime, as there might bo not enough of lime to 
precipitate the former, resulting in an excess of copper salt undecomposed 
in the soil. For example. Dr. Russell stated that he had taken the 
constituents of the mixture used by Messrs. Sutton, as stated in the 
Times, and found that the lime was not sufficient to decompose all the 
sulphate of copper, so that some of the solution had probab'y entered 
the soil. Secondly, the quality of the lime was an important point, as 
there might be an excess of caustic lime, which would probably be equally 
injurious. Moreover, the results might vary considerably according as 
the soil was naturally calcareous or purely siliceous. In the latter case 
a deficiency of basic materials would very likely bring about an excess 
of copper sulphate as a residue. Thus, Dr. Russell observed, that the 
solution on entering the soil would not at first be decomposed, but if 
lime or other bases, as magnesia, were present, then it would be com¬ 
pletely decomposed, and the copper rendered insoluble. Dr. Miiller 
added the important suggestion that the action of the copper solution 
might be highly injurious by destroying the nitrifying organisms. The 
general question, therefore, as to the possible injuriousness of sulphate 
®f copper in the soil, becomes somewhat complicated. It was understood 
that experiments were about to be undertaken at Chiswick, where the 
above considerations would be attended to. 
STRAWBERRY ROYAL SOVEREIGN. 
This may fairly be described as the best of Mr. Lixton’s new 
varieties which have been placed before the Fruit Committee of 
the Royal Horticultural Sooiety this season, and it well won a first- 
FIG. 83. —laxton’s eoyal sovebeign. 
class certificate at the last meeting. The fruits are variable in 
form, some being somewhat flattened and others conical, the 
former slightly furrowed. They are very firm and travel well, 
bright crimson in colour, deep on the sun, pale on the shaded side. 
The flesh is pink or pale flesh coloured, solid, with a hri^k yet 
rich and distinct pine flavour like Carolina Superba. This very 
rich and good looking Strawberry ripened at the same time as 
Noble, and Mr. Laxton regards it as the most valuable he has yet 
raised. The fruits are fairly represented in the engraving. Royal 
Sovereign appears to possess the qualities that should render it a 
favourite for choice dessert and market purposes. 
ARALIAS AS TABLE PLANTS. 
Aralias are without a doubt amongst the most valuable plants for 
table decoration. The foliage of most of them is light and graceful. 
Every attention should be bestowed upon them in order to secure a 
good stock of plants in all sizes, as a whole table could then be done at 
one time, large plants being used for the centre and smaller down the 
sides amongst the dishes. If well mossed up and covered with Ferns or 
Asparagus plumosus, the latter being laid on the cloth with any bright 
flowers placed on it at intervals, a charming table is produced at once 
light, pleasing, and graceful. 
When looking round the gardens at Abberley Hall, Stourport, the 
other day, I was much pleased with the quantity and quality of the 
