460 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
May 23, 1896. 
which attacks the Tomato is identical with that which plays such 
havoc with our Potato, both being allied plants. He also spoke of the 
cultivation of Potatoes, and stated that the chief variety used was the 
Magnum Bonum. In many places the culture of the Banana had 
been introduced very successfully. He does not know how it may 
be in the future, but at present the smaller subjects for garden 
cultivation, such as Lettuces, have not been attempted. 
A very brisk and animated discussion took place afterwards, in 
which most of the members present joined, especially Messrs. Webber 
and Monro, who gave some interesting information as to the prices 
obtained for these articles in Covent Garden. A friend of the latter, 
who had been a resident in the Canaries, gave some very valuable 
information with regard to the laws relating to tenure, as bearing upon 
the production of various vegetables. A cordial vote of thanks was 
awarded to Dr. Morris for his interesting paper, as also for his kindness 
in sending samples of the Tomatoes and Potatoes for the dinner ; as also 
to Mr. Webber for some Tasmanian Apples for the dessert. Probably 
no more interesting meeting of the Club has ever taken place. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
May 14th. 
Scientific Committee. —Present: Dr. M. T. Masters. F.R.S. (in 
the chair) ; Dr. D. Morris, C.M.G,, Rev. W. Wilks, Mr. A. Michael, Dr. 
Russell, F.R.S., Rev. G. Henslow, Hon. Sec. 
Wellingtonia luith Tumourovs Grow^:h. —Mr. Bunyard sent a speci¬ 
men of a young plant which had produced a large globular woody 
growth at the base. It was perforated by some beetle, but this was 
apparently of subsequent occurrence, and had nothing to do with the 
cause. A very similar structure had formerly been sent in a Taxodium. 
It was forwarded to Mr. Blandford for further examination. 
Fungi in Soil. —A sample of soil was received from Mr. Hooper, 
Cambridge, Waikato, New Zealand, with a communication, stating that 
the roots of fruit trees which penetrated the places where the fungus 
appeared to reside became infected, the fungus penetrating the tree from 
base to summit, and ultimately killing it. It was referred to Kew for 
investigation. 
Nemophila Seedlings. —Dr. Masters called attention to a peculiarity 
in the cotyledons and some of the leaves of this plant—in that the 
epidermis appears to become detached in places from the underlying 
tissue, and gives the appearance of white spots, as the chlorophyll 
becomes invisible. 
Cattleya Malformed. —He exhibited a flower reduced to its lowest 
terms in having two sepals only, an anther with two (instead of eight) 
pollen masses, and no pistil, the “inferior ovary” being represented by 
a stalk only, 
Bliododendron hirsutum. —Sir Ed. Loder sent a specimen apparently 
dying, with the observation that others appear to be in the same con¬ 
dition. Mr. Michael remarked that be had observed how this species is 
confined to limestone districts, while R, ferrugineum is indifferent, and 
grows both on limestone and granite in the Alps of Switzerland. It is 
possible, therefore, that the plants require lime, if it be deficient in the 
garden in question. 
Black Currant “ Jaundiced.''' —Mr. Fish sent specimens having a 
very yellow-green foliage, with a communication of which the following 
is an abstract :—After referring to several assumed causes— e.g , “ sudden 
changes from heat to cold, drought to drowning, «&c.”—this case differs 
from most in the following particulars :—“ The jaundice is limited to 
Black Currants of two or three years of age. The cuttings last year 
were free from the disease. The field is well drained, and of excellent 
quality for fruit trees and bushes, I hear at Meldreth that this new 
disease is more or less prevalent over very wide areas in Cambridge¬ 
shire.” The best remedy to be tried was thought to be a solution of 
sulphate of iron, and if this failed only to grow those kinds which appear 
to resist the complaint— e g,, Black Champion, Lee’s Prolific, and the 
Cut-leaved Black Currant. 
Colours of Flowers. —Some discussion arose as to the question of the 
influence of mineral salts in the soil upon the colours of flowers. Dr. 
Russell observing that many interesting and profitable results would 
undoubtedly follow from experiments in this direction. The change 
from blue to red in Hydrangeas was spoken of when they are removed 
from maritime to inland places, the general experience being that blue 
specimens grew mostly by the seaside, and were not altogether 
attributable to iron in the soil. Dr. Russell suggested the use of a 
dilute solution of ferro-chloride to test the conversion of the red to a 
blue colour. 
Influence of Salt. —A further discussion arose on the effect of salt. 
That on maritime plants is well known, being a cause of succulency in 
many of them, but the injury due to its presence in the case of S.W. winds 
has been felt at great distances inland, as at Bagshot, upwards of 
fifty miles away. Dr. Masters described the remarkable result on a 
Japanese Maple in Mr. Waterer’s grounds, in that while one half of the 
tree on the leeward side grew vigorously and never flowered, the other 
half exposed to the wind was greatly checked, and as a consequence 
blossomed, and so enabled seed to be procured from it. 
Tulip Abnormal. —Mr. M. Mills of The Gardens, Combe House, 
Croydon, sent a Tulip of abnormal size and growth, consisting of three 
peduncles fused together, with leaves 15 inches by 5 inches, the whole 
being nearly 3 feet in height. 
Primroses, Blue-tinted. —Mr. Wilson exhibited (at the meeting held 
on April 23rd, but accidentally omitted from the minutes) a flue bowl 
full of the best of the blue-tinted Primroses ; showing a great improve¬ 
ment upon the original forms when first raised. 
Photo of Fig. —Dr. Masters showed a photograph of a Fig, possibly 
F. Isiela, Boxb., with its roots forming a perfect network over the stem 
of a Mango. It was taken in a grove near Lanowlee, Western Ghauts, 
by Mr. G. Marshall Woockrow, College of Science, Poona. 
Bosa multiflora, Photo. —M, Vilmorin sent a photograph of a dwarf 
plant of this Rose, the seed of which was sown on January 15th, and 
the plant was in blossom on April 11th. 
Tendrils on Vines. —Dr. Masters showed the results of his observations 
on the occurrence of tendrils on branches of Vines containing seven leaves 
in succession ; only certain of the leaves had tendrils opposite to them, but 
there is no rule as to which should have none. Of seventeen examples, 
three leaves and one leaf had tendrils five times, or about 30 per cent. 
Tendrils occurred with four leaves, two leaves, or not at all, twice, or 
about 12 per cent. In no case did every leaf have a tendril, nor did six 
out of the seven ever have one at all. 
ARGON. 
As I see no possibility of saying anything on this subject calcu¬ 
lated to please Mr. W. Dyke, I beg to simply direct his attention to a 
few facts. 
1, I did not state in the original article on “ Plant-Forming 
Elements” that “argon enters into the composition of plants,” but that 
“the elements derived from the air are carbon,hydrogen, oxygen, argon, 
and nitrogen ” (page 332). 
2, No definite statement has been made by me that “ argon is found 
in plants ” (page 435). 
3, I have not “quoted ” or said that “ plants in the first instance 
lived in an atmosphere of nitrogen ” (page 435), but “ Evolution points 
to a primitive atmosphere of absolutely pure nitrogen, there not being 
any free oxygen, and with only such carbonic acid and water as were 
evolved from volcanoes, which extended over the greater part of the 
earth’s surface before the first organised beings came into existence ” 
(page 412). 
To all the statements given in the articles on the “ Plant-Forming 
Elements” (page 332 and 354) and in that on “Argon” (page 412) I 
strictly adhere. 
Professor Ramsey has not said that argon does not exist in plants, 
but he says that “ probably the process adopted was not suitable for 
detecting the new element.” It took quite a century to detect argon in 
the atmosphere after its presence had been indicated by Cavendish, and 
that a similar element obtains in the nitrogen of plant analysis is well 
known to “anyone with the most elementary knowledge of chemistry.” 
What is this element but argon—extremely inert nitrogen ?— G. Abbey. 
[We prefer discussions by practical men on subjects with which they 
are directly acquainted to second-hand arguments on argon that can be 
of small service to our readers.] 
WOKK-foil’^WEEK.. 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Vines. —Houses of Bips Grapes —When the Grapes are quite 
ripe fire heat will only be needed to prevent the temperature falling 
below 60°, admitting of a free circulation of air, and allowing a little 
constantly to insure a change of atmosphere and prevent the deposition 
of moisture on the berries. Do not allow the border to become very 
dry, but keep it moist and mulch with rather dry litter from which 
the manure has been removed, and the material sweetened by exposure 
for a few days to air and rain. The mulching being thin air willi 
enter the border, evaporation, however, being lessened, and the 
uniformity of the moisture preserves the roots in good condition. 
Moderate atmospheric moisture is not injurious to the Grapes but highly 
beneficial to the foliage, which must be kept clean and healthy. 
Allow a little lateral growth, as this will favour root action and tend 
to the preservation of the principal leaves, while if anything happens 
to them it will afford an outlet for the sap, and prevent the starting 
of the principal buds. If the Grapes are nquired to be kept some 
time place a double thicknesr of herring nets over the roof lights, 
especially where Black Hamburghs are tanging, in order to enable 
them to keep their colour. Foster’s Seedling and Buckland Sweet¬ 
water are also benefited by the netting, as brownish streaks sometimes' 
appear on the golden skin, and more or less deteriorate the appearance. 
Early Muscat Houses .—Vines of Muscat of Alexandria started at 
the new year will be swelling the fruit rapidly, and the berries on the 
upper side of the bunches exposed to the direct rays of the sun are 
somewhat liable to become scotched or scalded, hence a single thickness 
of pilchard or a double thickness of herring nets placed over the roof 
lights breaks the fierce rays of the sun sufficiently to prevent the injury, 
whilst not materially interfering with the admission of light. The 
netting also obviates any danger of damage to the foliage where the 
panes of glass are large and the means of ventilation inadequate for 
effecting the requisite change and amount of air in very bright weather, 
