Febrna-y 13, 1895. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
129 
and Orchids, and they had every reason to hope that they would again 
have a show this season even better than that of last year. He referred 
to the more regular publication of the Journal of the Society. In former 
years country Fellows had complained of getting so little for their money; 
since the publication of the Journal they had received many letters 
expressing pleasure in it. One of their papers had been read before 
the Nantes Horticultural Society, and a discussion had taken place upon 
It. The Secretary and Treasurer had rendered valuable aid in editing 
this Journal, and he thought it would be impossible to have two more 
energetic, judicious, and in every respect, admirable officials. (Cheers). 
The library, which was open to all the Fellows, and was frequently 
consulted, had been placed in proper order. After referring to some 
items in the accounts, in the course of which he alluded to the improve¬ 
ments which had been effected at Chiswick, the Chairman concluded 
by expressing his deep sense of the loss the Society had sustained by 
the death of Professor Reichenbach, the Rev. M. J. Berkeley, Rev. J. T. 
Boscawen, and Mr. W. Wildsmith, whose places it would be very 
difficult to fill. 
Baeon Schrodek then rose to give a preliminary sketch of the 
scheme by which they proposed to raise money and devote it to the 
building and maintenance of a hall of horticulture. Ever since the 
Society had left South Kensington they had, he said, been looking about 
for a suitable place, and though they had secured temporary premises 
the Society could not possibly remain as it was. A small Committee 
had been appointed to consider the matter, and the first question that 
arose was. How to raise the money ? The second. How to obtain a site? 
It was agreed that if outside friends, as well as the trade, would provide 
a good sum of money—£30,000 or £40,000—a site could soon be 
obtained. ^ This money, which would be lent by the Society’s supporters, 
these receiving no interest upon it, would be invested in three trustees, 
and the interest upon it would insure the ground rent that would be 
required. They would then erect a hall, library, &c., and rooms suitable 
for the use of the Royal Horticultural Society and for special societies 
and institutions, for which rent would be paid. Moreover, if the 
hall were in a good position it might be let for various purposes without 
detriment to the Society. He did not think it desirable at present to 
make a definite statement as to the probable site, but he would add 
that they had one in view in one of the best positions in London, and 
which would be passed by the majority of persons going to and fro into 
the city. A love of flowers was undoubtedly increasing in the city, and 
he thought that if business men found pleasure in visiting shows they 
would soon decide to pay an annual subscription and enter them when 
they pleased. He (the Baron) felt most confident in the success of the 
scheme ; so much so that he was prepared to give a considerable sum of 
money towards it, to form one of a Committee for working out the scheme, 
and, if the Society desired it, to become one of the trustees of the 
money. (Ceeers.) If some such course was not adopted he thought 
the Society would decline. A turn for the better had now come. 
Fellows were increasing in number, and now was the time to get the 
Society a permanent home. 
The Chairman formally moved the adoption of the report, and Dr. 
Hogg, in seconding it, referred in terms of warm approval to the efforts 
that were being made to lift the Society into a better position, and to 
Baron Schroder’s endeavours to formulate a scheme for providing it 
with a suitable home. No one, he said, was more competent to give ad¬ 
vice on such a matter as this, which, in fact, was a small affair compared 
with many of the financial undertakings in which the Baron was 
engaged. He (Dr. Hogg) could now see daylight ahead in the affairs 
of the Society, and was delighted to observe the turn for the better 
that had taken place. 
Dr. Mordaunt Matthews also spoke in support of Baron 
Schroder’s suggested scheme. He would, he said, gladly offer £100 
himself, and he had no doubt many other Fellows would subscribe. 
Other gentlemen spoke in approval of the progressive policy of the 
Society. 
Mr. D. Morris (Treasurer) in reply to a question respecting the 
affi’iation of local horticultural societies, stated that the members of the 
Chiswick Horticultural Society (which was specially referred to) were 
admitted to inspect the Chiswick trials on payment of an annual sum, 
and also held a Show in the Gardens. Similar terms could no doubt be 
conceded to other societies, but the majority were too far away to find 
it convenient to avail themselves of such an arrangement. He also re¬ 
ferred to the increased expenditure on postage. This had been necessi¬ 
tated by the regular issue and distribution of the Society’s Journal. 
Formerly it had been handed to Fellows on application at the office ; 
now copies were regularly posted to all subscribing Fellows. The clerical 
expenses of the Society had been much reduced, a result largely due to 
the energy of the Secretary. (Cheers.) 
The report having been submitted to the meeting was unanimously 
adopted. 
The election of officers was then proceeded with. Messrs. E. A. 
Hambro, N. N. Sherwood, and Martin R. Smith were elected to fill the 
three vacancies on the Council caused by the retirement of Messrs. J. R. 
Bourne, W. Coleman, and A. H. Smee. Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., 
M.P. was elected President, Mr. D. Morris Treasurer, the Rev. W. 
Wilks, M.A., Secretary, and Messrs. G. Deal, W. Richards, and II. 
Turner, Auditors. 
A hearty vote of thanks to the President, Treasurer, and Secretary 
brought the meeting to a close, the proceedings terminating with bright 
auguries for future success. It may be added that as a result of Baron 
Schroder’s suggested financial scheme, a subscription was opened towards 
the close of the meeting, and a sum of £2600 was raised in the course 
of a few minutes. 
DISEASE OF TOMATOES AS CAUSED BY 
FUNGI. 
During the last few years many garden plants, including 
Tomatoes, have been badly attacked by so-called new species of 
fungi belonging to the genus Cladosporium. These species, desci ibed 
by botanists as new to science or new to this country, are very 
much alike in general appearance—in fact, they are so much alike 
that possibly no one could distinguish between them unless the 
names of the host plants were known beforehand. In the majority 
of instances leaf fungi are named after the plants on which they 
most frequently grow—in fact, the habitat is too often the very 
feeble foundation for the establishment of the species. This plan, 
as adopted by botanists, of giving specific names to leaf fungi is as 
bad as if all Buttercups found in chalky fields were called by one 
specific name, all in loamy fields by another, and all found in peaty 
fields by a third. 
When seen upon the supporting leaves, and even under the 
microscope, there is often no difference whatever to be detected in 
some so-called species of microscopic fungi (as in Puccinia), an I 
no botanist, however talented or imaginative, could name the fungi 
unless advised beforehand of the name of the plant upon which the 
fungus grew ; for instance, a dozen microscopic preparations of 
so-called species of Puccinia might be forwarded for naming to a 
FIG. 21. 
DISEASE OF TOMATOES AS CAUSED BY CLADOSPORIUM LYCOPERSICI. 
scientific authority, and no botanist would be able to give a specific 
name to a single example, or to distinguish one from the other. 
In this respect it will be seen that many microscopic fungi resemble 
many florists’ flowers. If a specialist receives the name of the 
plant on which the fungus was seen ho will then name (almost 
without examination) the specimens. The more puzzling species 
of fungi (as when two or more species of one genus grow upon one 
host plant) are named vexans, obscura, perplexans, inconspicua, &c. 
There is a good deal of vexans, obscura, perplexans, and incon¬ 
spicua about the Tomato fungi, as most gardeners by this time 
probably know. There is a very common microscopic fungus 
found on foliage of all sorts, named Dactylium roseum. It more 
or less covers the leaves on both sides with a fine pinkish-white 
powder, and to the unaided eye is not unlike the mildew of Vines, 
save in its very faint pink colour. Of late years this fungus has 
been far too common, and sometimes its growth upon Tomato 
plants has been profuse. This Dactylium roseum has a twin brother 
named D. lycopersici, chiefly so named because it grows with 
luxuriance upon Tomatoes. 
Tomatoes have of late been flooded with fungi, for which new 
names have been invented. Some of these are without doubt very 
old friends with new names. For instance, there is a new Sphsero- 
nema lycopersici, and a new Sporocybe lycopersici, a new Clado¬ 
sporium lycopersici, a new Macrosporium lycopersici, and (for a 
slight change) a new Macrosporium tomati—all new forms, and 
peculiar to the Tomato if a student can only bring his mind to 
believe it. The Potato fungus sometimes grows upon the Tomato 
plant; when it does so it is not given as our old acquaintance 
Peronospora infestans, but P. lycopersici. 
The fungus most worthy of attention when growing upon 
Tomatoes is the destructive parasite known as Cladosporium 
lycopersici. This fungus causes the decay of the fruit. It begins 
with a minute black spot, which surrounds the small decaying style. 
The black spot gradually increases in size by new circles of growth, 
one beyond another in the style of fairy-rings. The fungus 
growth at the same time flattens the apex of the fruit, till at last 
the whole substance is blackened and entirely destroyed by the 
Cladosporium. The fungus spreads from the leaves (as I believe), 
or from one fruit to another, till at last leaves, stems, and fruits are 
all alike rotten. A small illustration is here given (fig. 21) natural 
