August 1, 1889. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
91 
presence of iEcidium elatinum. The mycelium of this fungus was 
abundant in the stunted leaves and in the abnormal portions of the 
stem, the development of the leaves being much affected. The diseased 
leaves show no differentiation of palisade and spongy parenchyma ; few 
chlorophyll granules are developed, and there is a marked deficiency of 
starch. This last-mentioned fact is, no doubt, a cause of the imperfect 
development of the wood in the infected branches.” Prof. Ward, who 
bad also examined it, added that he discovered a few spermogonia, but 
no “accidium” sporanges. It is the same uredinous fungus which 
causes the “ Witches’ brooms,” and is mostly, if not invariably, confined 
to Abies, for Dr. Masters remarked that he had met with it, if it be the 
same species, in Pinus austriaca and P. sylvestris. Dr. Ward added that 
the fungus has a very remarkable stimulating effect on the cambium, and 
alters the botanical characters of the part affected, rendering the leaves 
annual. 
Fern-protliallus with Water Pores (?).—With reference to the accu¬ 
mulation of water upon the prothalli mentioned at a previous meeting 
Professor Ward thought it was quite conceivable that water might 
accumulate in the tracheids beneath the sorus ; but on the other hand it 
might have been merely dew drop 5 *, the evidence being insufficient to 
furnish a more definite conclusion. 
Icy-leaved Pelargonium Diseased. —Air. Moiris showed leaves of 
plants received from M. Lemoine and grown at Chiswick badly 
diseased with a new species of Glceosporium. There was no remedy 
known, and complete destruction by burning was the only thing to be 
done. 
Effects of Hail at Kew. —He also showed leaves of bedding-out 
plants, and mentioned a long list of others injured in various degrees by 
the hailstones, which had riddled and lacerated them on July 15th. 
Aquatic plants suffered in the same way. Some of the genera most 
severely injured were Funkia, Nicotiana, Polygonum, Gourds, Podo¬ 
phyllum, Malvaceae, Saxifraga peltata, Rheum. Boragineae, Solanacere 
generally, and Gunnera scabra. Fortunately there was no damage to 
the glass houses. 
Peas Diseased. —Mr. N. II. Pownall, Lenten Hall Gardens, Notting¬ 
ham, forwarded specimens of Peas badly attacked by fungi. He re¬ 
ports that for years there have been patches of it, but this season it is 
very bad indeed. It was referred to Mr. Oliver for examination and 
report. 
Plum Leaves Blighted. —Mr. J. Lloyd-Bozwan of Worcester had 
forwarded specimens to Kew, which Mr. Morris exhibited to the meet¬ 
ing. The b ight bad not been previously observed at Worcester. After 
the attack the leaves shrink up, wither and die, as if burnt, and the 
■ends of the spring shoots, some 7 or 8 inches in length, die also. The 
leaves are mostly marked with discoloured patches of a faint dusky red 
colour. Dr. Masters said that he had received similar specimens from 
various districts. No fungus could be detected by Dr. Cooke, and no 
insect appeared to be the cause ; but Mr. Yeitch and other members of 
the Committee had little doubt but that the affection was due to the 
wood having been badly ripened in the previous year. 
The Red Ruse of Lancaster (J). —Mr. W. G. Barron had sent speci¬ 
mens to Kew, which Mr. Morris exhibited, and were supposed to be 
this variety. It appeared, however, that in the opinion of experts it 
was a Damask Rose, and not the true Rose of Lancaster, which pro¬ 
duces red and white blossoms on the same stem. 
Tarsonymus on Abies Nordmanniana. —Mr. Michael had examined 
the branch above referred to for the presence of any insects, and 
although having nothing to do with the cause of the alteration of 
■structure, he found the above mentioned insect, but no phytopti. It is 
a leaf miner, and sometimes very destructive to trees at Turin. He 
also found eggs at the points of the shoots, which appeared to be those 
of some aphis. 
Blackberry and Raspberry Cross (?).—Mr. Henslow exhibited fruit¬ 
ing branches of a plant originally received from Mr. Yiccars Collyer, 
which he reported had come up quite accidentally in his garden. Mr. 
Henslow had cultivated it for two years. It flowered last year, the 
blossoms closely resembling those of a Raspberry, but it bore no fruit. 
In the present season it has an abundance of fruit densely clustered, 
quite black, each “ drupel ” having a tomentose base, and provided with 
an embryo. It agrees in appearance with the Blackberry, but has 
ripened at the period of the Raspberry. The stem and foliage is 
tomentose, agreeing with the Raspberry, but the method of formation 
of the quinate leaves, as described by Mr. Henslow last year, is that of 
the Blackberry. The taste was thought by members of the Committee 
to be indicative of both species. Having been referred to Kew since 
the meeting, the plant has been recognised as R. occidentalis. L., “the 
Black Raspberry” or “ Thimblebeiry ” of the North U.S. Prof. Gray 
^Man. of Bot., p. 121), says that curious forms are known with fruit 
intermediate between this and R. strigosus, Michor, a species which 
“ too closely resembles the European Raspberry.” Hence it may be a 
hybrid between this last mentioned species and R. villosus, Ait., the 
■“ common” or High Blackberry” of U.S. 
Vegetable Marrow Malformed. —Mr. Henslow exhibited a specimen 
to which a branch had become adherent about half the length of the 
fruit. It had been cut off three or four weeks ago, and the branch had 
grown about 12 or 14 inches, and was producing flower buds, at the 
expense of the tissues of the Marrow itself. It was accepted for the 
museum at Kew. 
Mint unfit Spiral Torsion. —Prof. Ward exhibited a specimen of this 
'veil-known occurrence in plants, with opposite and decussate leaves. 
The leaves do not become alternate by any development of internodes 
but are arranged in a secund manner, by a twist through a semicircle. 
Mint Flowering. —Mr, Henslow observed that the common garden 
Mint is coming into blossom abundantly this season, and exhibited 
specimens in flower from Ealing. The shoot brought by Prof. Ward 
was also in bud. Mr. Henslow observed that at present the flowers are 
all female only, with rudimentary stamens—hence, like so many other 
Labiates, it will probably prove to be gvno-dicecious. 
Water Culture of the Potato. —Dr. Masters remarked on some 
experiments he had made with Potatoes grown over water that they 
had produced an abundance of roots, and even some flowers, but no 
attempt was made to develope any new tubers. 
ANDROMEDA (ZENOBIA) SPECIOSA VAR. 
CASSINEFOLIA. 
This plant is a native of North Carolina in the neighbourhood of 
Wilmington and Fayette Town, also fount in thi Pine barrens along 
the coast as far south as Florid i. It was introduce! into England at 
FIG. 12.— ANDROMEDA SPECIOSA CASSINEFOLIA. 
the beginning of the present century by Fraser, who, at that time, had 
a nursery in Sloane Square. 
An illustration was published by Sims in the “ Botanical Magazine,” 
plate 970, under the name of Andromeda cassinefolia, but expressing 
his belief that this and A. pulverulenta are but varieties of one species. 
This view has since been confirmed by the American botanists, notably 
by the late Dr. Asa Gray, who has brought both forms under the 
Andromeda (Zenobia) speciosa of Michaux in the “Flora of North 
America,” vol. ii., part I., page 31. At Coombe Wood it attains the 
height of 3 to 4 feet, flowering during the end of June and beginning 
cf July. 
