426 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ November 19,1891. 
discovered by Mr. L. Wray, who in 1884 sent herbarium specimens to 
Kew from Birch’s Hill, with the note that the flowers are pale lilac and 
white, whereas in the cultivated plant they are pale green. In 1888 the 
same excellent correspondent sent living tubers to Kew, which flowered 
in January, 1889, and from onebf these the accompanying figure was 
made.” 
The leaves are divided into five to nine narrow leaflets, about 8 inches 
long each, the leafstalks and scape being green and white dotted with 
red, giving a very peculiar effect. The plant, like most of its relatives, 
requires a warm house, a light open soil, abundance of water when in 
growth and flower, and a period of rest. 
The form of the spathe and spadix is well shown in the woodcut 
(fig. 82). 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Scientific Committee. —November 10th.—Present : Dr. W. T. T. 
Dyer, in the chair; Dr. Masters, Dr. Miiller, Mr. McLachlan, Mr. 
Morris, Dr. Russell, Rev. W. Wilks, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Blandford, Prof. 
Church, Dr. Bonavia, Mr. Michael, Mr. Pascoe, and Rev. G. Henslow 
(Hon. Sec.). 
Pear Spot. —The disease upon Pears brought to the last meeting 
proved to be due to Fusicladium dendriticum, Wallr., a common 
parasite. 
Hunting Spider. —With reference to this insect, referred to at the 
last meeting, Mr. Morris observed that it proves to be very widely 
distributed. The male appears to be most commonly seen ; he had 
observed it at the gardens of Sir J. Llewellyn at Penllergare. 
Wallflowers ivith Clubbed Roots. —Mr. Lister, to whom the speci¬ 
mens were sent from the last meeting, reports as follows :—“ I have 
not studied the life history of Plasmodiophora Brassicas sufficiently to 
speak with entire confidence with regard to the disease which has 
attacked the roots of the Wallflowers ; but 1 think there can be little 
doubt that they are affected by the same parasite as causes the clubbing 
of Cabbage roots. I enclose a drawing from a section of one of the 
roots, from which it will be seen that one half has not been attacked, 
while the other half is much swollen by abnormal growth of all the 
parts. The cells are larger and rounder than in the sound portion, 
and among them are vast numbers of larger chambers formed by the 
breaking down of cell walls, and these are filled with the spores of 
the Plasmodiophora. They arc most abundant in the cortex, though 
both the phloem and the outer part of the xylem are largely affected. 
The organism would seem to be in the condition descriDed by Zopf, 
where all the plasmodium (if that word can properly be used in this 
case) has changed to spores, which would escape when the diseased root 
rotted away. Plasmodiophora is not included by De Barry with the 
ou-Myeetozoa , and Zopf places it with the Monadinere.” 
Cunonia eapensis. —Dr. Masters exhibited specimens showing inter- 
petiolar stipules and glandular processes, apparently secreting a resinous 
matter. It was the only instance known in Saxifragacea:, though 
similar facts were well known in Cinchonacem or Rubiacete. 
Pinus lialepensis. —A spray was received by Dr. Masters from Baron 
von Mueller, bearing both male and female inflorescences, they being 
usu dly separated. 
r New Insect in St. Helena. —Mr. Morris read a communication from 
Mr. W. Grey Wilson, Governor, referring to some insects forwarded 
(in two stages), which he feared might prove dangerous. They were 
taken from a Rose bush, the branches of which were densely covered 
with a large white insect and a small red one. It appeared to resemble 
some species of Iceria. It was sent to Mr. Douglas for examination and 
report. 
The Injury of London Fog to Plants. —Dr. Dyer called attention 
to some discrepancies tetween the published analyses of the deposits 
collected at Chelsea and Kew—more particularly in the hydrocarbons— 
given in Dr. Russell’s paper in Nature, November 7th, 1891. Thus, the 
hydrocarbons and organic bases are recorded as 12 3 and 2 per cent, 
respectively at Chelsea, whereas at Kew they were collectively only 
4'8 per cent. Similarly the metallic and magnetic oxides of iron were 
together, 2 G p?r cent., and mineral matter (chiefly silica and ferric 
oxide) was 3P2 per cent, at Chelsea. These taken collectively at Kew 
were 41-5 per cent. Dr. Miiller did not attach very much importance to 
these differences ; and Prof. Church thought it would be desirable to 
differentiate more accurately between the silicates. The general opinion 
was that it would be desirable to collect fresh deposits in the ensuing 
■winter and re examine them. 
Parana paniculata. —Mr. Lynch exhibited a spray of this plant of 
the order Convolvulaceae, received from India through Dr. Bonavia, who 
described it in 1885 (Gardeners' Chronicle, v ol. xxiii., N.S. p. 47). It 
was the first occasion of its flowering in England. Dr. Dyer compli¬ 
mented Mr. Lynch on its successful cultivation. 
Ix n did<e (Ticks') from Antigua. —Mr. Michael exhibited specimens 
taken from ponies, and received from Mr. C. A. Barber. They were 
two females of a Hyalomma, probably H. dissimile, Koch ; which Koch 
described some thirty years ago from specimens taken in Mexico. The 
creatures are bred on plants and trees, and attach themselves to passing 
animals, being then quite small; the male remains so, but the female 
sucks the blood of the animal and becomes enormously distended. 
They anchor themselves by their rostra, which are provided with recurved 
hooks; the Ixodes can then withdraw the rostrum and being full-fed, 
drops off, matures and lays its eggs on the plants. The specimens 
sent had sucked and were much distended, but had evidently withdrawn 
their rostra, as these organs were perfect, whereas the claws with which 
they were holding on were all torn off. 
Specimen of Agaricus melleus Attached to its Mycelium (Rhizo- 
morphia) —Mr. Plowright forwaided specimens with the following com¬ 
munications :—“ It is not very long since our British mycologists ridi¬ 
culed the idea that Agaricus melleus was a parasitic fungus, capable 
of destroying living trees. For many years the heteroecious-like history 
of Puccinia graminis was similarly scouted as absurd. This, however, 
is now a thing of the past. In the specimen of A. melleus sent herewith, 
a group of young specimens are seen in situ attached to the well 
developed rhizomorpho'd mycelium. The specimen was removed from 
an Ash tree in the park of Hammond Lodge, Terrington, St. Clements, 
in the month of October last. Such specimens are not easy to preserve ; 
but in the present case this has been accomplished fairly well. The 
group of Agarics, which were quite young, bad just emerged through the 
bark of the tree ; by carefully cutting away the bark the mycelium was 
brought into view between the bark and the wood. A piece of the 
mycelium 3 or 4 inches square was removed with the Agarics in situ. 
Attached to the under side of the mycelium will be observed two frag¬ 
ments of the wood (Ash) already decayed by the agency of the 
mycelium.” 
Agaricus squarrosus, a True Root Parasite. —“ The parasitic nature 
of Agaricus squarrosus is as well marked as that of A. melleus, although 
this feature in the life history of the fungus has not hitherto, to my 
knowledge, been pointed out. It attacks Beech, Apple, and Ash trees. 
The specimens sent herewith were obtained from an Ash tree near 
King’s Lynn. The tree is a fine well-grown specimen growing on the 
roadside. Last October I observed clusters of A. squarrosus growing out 
of the ground a couple of feet from the stem. On carefully removing 
the turf I was able to trace the base of the stems of the Agaric attached 
to a compacted mass of white mycelium, earth, and small stones to one 
of the main roots of the tree. It will be observed that a portion of the 
woody tissues of the root permeated by white mycelial hyphrn is still 
attached to the basis of the stems of the cluster of the Agarics. Having 
watched trees attacked by this parasite for some years, it appears that 
its destructive influence upon the tree it attacks is not nearly so rapid 
as that of Agaricus melleus. This is accounted for by the fact that the 
mycelium of A. squarrosus is not nearly so well developed a structure as 
that of A. melleus. The hyplne are not compacted into such thick cord¬ 
like structures. Still, however, a tree once attacked by A. squarrosus 
is practically doomed. This fungus is very destructive to the Apple 
trees in the orchards of Herefordshire, where it is a well known pest. 
It very probably attacks other deciduous trees, but the three above 
named are the only ones upon which I have observed it growing as a 
parasite.” 
Dr. Dyer observed that A. melleus is now well known as doing 
serious mischief through its parasitic habit, and mentioned that where 
roots are exposed and subject to abrasion by cartwheels, or otherwise, 
the Agaric is known to attack the decorticated place. 
STRAWBERRIES IN SCOTLAND. 
The following notes upon Strawberries, showing when we 
commenced and finished gathering fruits for the last ten years in 
midland Scotland may be of interest to some readers. 
When commenced. 
When finished. 
Early variety. 
1882 
... June 24th 
... August 12th 
... Black Prince. 
1883 
... June 28th 
... September 5th 
••• u it 
1884 
... June 30th 
... September 3rd 
••• 11 )i 
1885 
... July 3rd 
... September 1st 
... Garibaldi. 
1886 
... July 7th 
... September 4th 
... „ 
1887 
... June 15th 
... August 11th 
... Black Prince. 
1888 
... July 2nd 
... September 20 th 
... Garibaldi. 
1889 
... June 25th 
... September 9th 
... King of the Earlies. 
1890 
... June 27th 
... August 28th 
••• 11 19 91 
1891 
... July 2nd 
... August 22nd 
... Garibaldi. 
Black Prince and King of the Earlies I have discarded, both 
are too small for table. Black Prince was a sparse cropper in 
our heavy soil, and King of the Earlies is rather white in flesh for 
preserving. Captain was tried and found wanting in shapely 
fruit, 90 per cent, were malformed. I planted 1000 of Noble last 
autumn, thinking to create a a sensation with “ noble ” fruit before 
Garibaldi was ripe. In that I was disappointed, because Garibaldi 
was ripe four or five days before it, and President was ready to 
gather as soon as it was, all grown side by side. Noble is very 
deficient in flavour, rather soft in flesh for marketing, and far too 
dull in colour to be a taking fruit. I shall plant no more of it. 
I have grown about forty varieties, both late and early, but have 
found none to approach Garibaldi for an early (it is several days 
earlier than Marguerite), President for a midseason, and Frogmore 
Late Pine for a late. In other localities, and on different soils, 
the trio named may not be all what they have proved themselves 
to be here, but until a variety has proved itself to be par excellence , 
after a thorough test, there will be no more 1000 plants of it 
planted by—G. McDougall. 
