212 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER 
March  6,  1902: 
Societies. 
The  Scientific  Committee  (R.H.S).  February  25. 
Present:  A.  D.  Michael,  Esq.,  in  the  chair;  Rev.  W.  Wilks, 
Messrs.  Saunders,  Douglas,  Bennett-Poe,  Odell,  Chapman, 
Hooper,  Holmes,  Nicholson,  Worsdell,  Boulger,  Bowles, 
Carruthers  (visitor),  Drs.  Muller,  Rendle,  Cooke,  and  Masters. 
Diseased  Leaves  of  Odontoglossum. — Mr.  Chapman  showed 
leaves  showing  discoloration  and  shrivelling  of  the  leaf-tips, 
attributable  to  excessive  moisture  and  unfavourable  climatic  con¬ 
ditions.  There  was  no  trace  of  fungus. 
Alleged  Hybrid  between  Pea  and  Dwarf  Bean. — Dr.  Masters 
showed,  on  behalf  of  Mr  Smith,  a  Pea-like  seed  raised,  as  was 
stated,  between  a  dwarf  Bean  and  one  of  the  culinary  Peas.  The 
seeds  of  the  Blean-parent  were  shown,  in  the  form  of  small, 
flattened,  kidney-shaped  seeds,  of  a  shining  chestnut  colour. 
The  supposed  hyjbrid  seed  resembled  a  smooth,  round  Pea  in  size, 
form,  and  colour.  As  there  was  only  one  seed  available,  no 
minute  examination  was  m^de,  but  the  seed  was  forwarded  to 
Chiswick  to  be  grown  and  reported  on. 
Narcissus  poeticus  var  ornatus. — Mr.  Jenkins  sent  flowers  of 
this  variety  to  show  the  manner  in  which  the  coloured  edge  of  the 
corona  was  eaten  off  by  slugs,  leaving  the  yellow  cup  untouched. 
Whether  the  slugs  are  attracted  by  the  reddish  colour  of  the  rim 
of  the  corona,  or  by  some  other  inducement,  is  a  matter  for 
investigation. 
Gnaur  on  Pavia  sp.— From  the  Botanic  Garden,  Bath,  came  a 
globular  woody  excrescence  crowded  with  buds  and  contracted 
shoots.  The  tree  is  reported  to  bear  very  numerous  such  growths, 
from  some  of  which  the  flowers  protrude,  so  that  their  appear¬ 
ance  is  at  that  period  peculiar  and  attractive.  It  was  suggested 
that  these  outgrowths  might  be  the  result  of  the  irritation  set  up 
by  mites  or  by  fungus  (Exoascus). 
Gnaur  on  Allamanda. — A  similar  production  on  the  branch 
of  an  Allamanda  was  shown,  but  in  this  case  there  were  no  buds 
or  shoots.  It  was  suggested  that  the  irritation  occasioned  by 
ants  was  competent  to  induce  such  growths. 
Diseased  Leaves. — Miss  Dryden  sent  various  leaves,  as  fol¬ 
lows  :  — (1)  Violet  leaves.  These  were  affected  with  red  spider 
and  thrips,  for  which  the  application  of  tobacco  water  and  soft- 
soap  as  a  wash  was  recommended.  (2)  Leaves  of  bulbous  plant 
from  Burmah.  These  were  marked  by  red  streaks,  and  ultimately 
by  the  decay  and  shrivelling  of  the  tip  of  the  leaf.  The  appear¬ 
ances  were  such  as  are  occasioned  by  thrip,  for  which  fumigation 
with  tobacco  or  XL  All  is,  very  effectual.  (3)  Pelargonium  leaves 
discoloured  and  shrivelled.  No  insect  or  fungus  could  be  found 
on  these  leaves,  the  condition  of  which  was  attributed  to  un¬ 
favourable  conditions  of  light,  temperature,  moisture,  or  all 
combined. 
Cyclamen  Flowers,  Synantliy  in. — Mr.  J.  S.  Davis  sent  flowers 
of  C.vclamen  more  or  less  united  one  to  another,  and  with  leaves 
developed  on  the  flower-stalk.  Although  the  appearances  are  far 
from  uncommon,  it  is  not  easy  to  assign  a  definite  cause  for  their 
production. 
Fasciated  Holly.- — Mr.  Morley,  Southborough,  sent  a  specimen 
of  this  malformation,  due  to  excessive  growth.  It  presented  no 
special  peculiarities. 
Bacteriosis  in  Carnations. — Dr.  Cooke  reported  as  follows  on 
some  specimens  exhibited  at  the  last  meeting  :  — “  The  Carnation 
leaves  sent  to  the  last  meeting  are  undoubtedly  affected  by  the 
disease  described  as  Bacteriosis.  The  appearance  of  the  leaves 
is  strikingly  like  that  figured  in  the  “  D.S.A.  Exp.  Sta.  Purdue,” 
March,  1896,  and  the  minute  organisms,  whatever  they  may  be, 
are  similar.  The  name  given  to  the  parasite  is  Bacterium 
Dianthi.  The  disease  is  said  to  enter  the  plants  chiefly  through 
the  puncture  of  aphides,  and  the  suggestions  made  are  that  the 
plants  may  be  kept  essentially  free  from  the  disease  by  keeping 
the  foliage  dry,  and  preventing  the  presence  of  aphides.  Over¬ 
head  spraying  should  only  be  done  occasionally  on  bright  days, 
with  w’ater  containing  a  small  amount  of  ammoniacal  copper 
carbonate.” 
Germination  of  the  Seeds  of  Grinum  and  other  Amaryllids. — 
Mr.  Worsley  contributed  a  paper  accompanied  by  illustrations. 
Mr.  Worsley  contends  that  the  structure  usually  considered  a 
cotyledon  is  not  truly  so  named,  for  it  has  no  counterpart  among 
dicotyledons,  and  it  does  not  perform  the  functions  of  a  cotyledon. 
Moreover,  Mr.  Worsley  thinks  that  “in  comparative  anatomy, 
function  is  a  safer  guide  than  locality.” 
New  Species  of  Hippeastrum. — Mr.  Worsley  showed  Hippe- 
astrum  Kromeri.  This  unrecorded  species  was  introduced  by 
Mr.  Kromer,  of  the  Roraima  Nurseries,  W.  Croydon,  who  both 
presented  Mr.  W.  with  a  bulb,  and  sent  flowers  of  other 
not  showing  any  divergence.  It  was  gathered  in  the  highlands 
of  Minas  Geraes,  Brazil,  on  the  banks  of  the  Upper  Rio  Sao  Fran¬ 
cisco.  It  holds  an  intermediate  position  between  the  Rutilum- 
Reginse  group,  and  the  epiphytal  group  inhabiting  the  Organ 
Mountains.  It  seems  nearest  akin,  geographically  and  generally, 
with  H.  correiensis  (Bury.  Hexand.,  9). 
Highgate  and  Dibtr.ct  (hnsanihemum. 
A  committee  meeting  was  held  last  Thursday  evening,  Mr.  T. 
Bevan  presiding.  The  preliminary  business  having  been  disposed 
of,  seventeen  new  members  were  elected,  and  the  schedule  for  the 
next  exhibition  was  completed,  special  prizes  being  accepted 
from  Mr.  J.  H.  Witty,  Mr.  Cole,  and  Mr.  Love ;  also  prizes  from 
the  following :  — the  Williams’  Memorial  large  silver  medal  from 
the  Williams’  Memorial  Trustees,  £5  from  Wm.  Cutbush  and  Son,, 
and  £5  from  W.  Wells  and  Co.,  Limited,  for  twelve  Japanese- 
blooms,  novelties  of  1901-2,  or  novelties  not  in  commerce  (open 
to  all  comers).  Several  other  classes  were  added  to  the  schedule,, 
and  several  alterations  made  in  the  regulations. — ^W.  E.  Boyoe. 
'  Bolton  Horiicultural  and  Chrysanthemum. 
The  adjourned  general  meeting  of  this  society  was  held  on 
Tuesday,  February  11,  1902.  The  following  is  a  brief  statement 
of  the  accounts  for  the  past  year: — Total  expenditure, 
£303  3s.  lOd. ;  total  receipts,  228  3s.  Id. ;  showing  a  net  loss  of 
£75  Os.  9d.  on  the  year’s  working.  This  loss  was  chiefly  attri- 
buted  to  the  bad  state  of  the  weather  on  the  show  days,  and  the 
additional  expenditure,  over  previous  years,  incurred,  by  the 
show  being  held  in  the  Drill  Hall.  It  was  unanimously  agreed 
that  the  retiring  president,  Thomas  Walker,  Esq.,  be  asked  to. 
accept  the  presidency  for  the  ensuing  year.  Mr.  Smith  was  re¬ 
elected  chairman,  Mr.  Shone  was  re-elected  treasurer,  Mr.  H. 
Makin  was  elected  secretary,  and  Messrs.  Mather  and  Hay  the- 
auditors.  Half  of  the  committee  were  also  elected.  It  was  also 
resolved  that  the  secretary  of  this  society  be  elected  at  its  annual 
general  meeting. 
Chester  Paxton 
At  a  meeting  held  in  the  Grosvenor  Museum  on  Saturday, 
Mr.  John  Weaver,  the  president  for  the  year,  read  an  interesting- 
and  instructive  paper  on  “  Stove  Plants.”  Mr.  Weaver  has  for- 
several  years  been  a  successful  cultivator  of  these,  his  collections 
of  them  at  the  local  horticultural  shows  generally  taking  first 
place.  In  the  course  of  his  paper,  he  dealt  chiefly  with  the- 
ornamental-foliaged  plants  grown  in  stoves,  and  made  special 
reference  to  the  many  varieties  of  Crotons  and  Caladiums.  His 
cultural  details  of  these  were  of  particular  interest,  especially  to 
practical  gardeners,  and  by  the  aid  of  specimens  he  was  able  t» 
show  to  the  audience  the  best  varieties  to  grow.  Mr.  Weaver- 
also  gave  the  result  of  his  experience  with  regard  to  the  exter¬ 
mination  of  insect  pests,  especially  scale  and  mealy  bug,  the 
houses  under  his  care  having  been  free  from  the  latter  for  several 
years.  Mr.  Joseph  Ryder,  who  presided,  and  others,  took  part 
in  the  discussion  which  followed,  and  at  the  close  Mr.  Weaver 
was  accorded  a  hearty  vote  of  thanks. 
Birmingham  Gardene’-s'  A^socialion. 
“  Some  Diseases  of  Plant  Life  ”  was  the  subject  disquisitioned 
by  Dr.  A.  B.  Reginald  Buffer,  University,  Birmingham,  on  Feb¬ 
ruary  24,  at  the  fortnightly  meeting  of  this  association.  The 
president.  Professor  W.  Hillhouse,  P.L.S.,  remarked  that  he 
experienced  additional  pleasure  in  introducing  the  learned  lec¬ 
turer  to  the  meeting  from  the  fact  that  the  latter  was  formerly 
a  pupil  of  his  own  at  the  University,  and  had  also  since  studied 
for  several  years  vegetable  physiology,  pathology,  and  other 
cognate  sciences  in  Germany.  The  lecture,  which  was  listened  to 
with  rapt  attention,  was  treated  upon  a  most  lucid  and  attractive 
manner,  and  illustrated  by  diagrams  and  preserved  specimens. 
The  subject  matter  was  confined  principally  to  the  Potato  disease- 
and  the  “  club-root  ”  affecting  members  of  the  Brassicas  and  other 
Cruciferous  plants.  In  the  discussion  that  followed  several 
questions  were  asked  and  satisfactorily  answered,  w’hile  consider¬ 
able  valuable  information  was  elicited  from  two  or  three  of  the 
speakers  regarding  antidotes  for  the  suppression  of  the  diseases 
under  notice,  such  as  the  Tomato  diseases;  and  the  Vine  disease 
(Phylloxera  devastatrix)  was  also  adverted  to.  A  cultural  certi¬ 
ficate  of  merit  was  worthily  awarded  to  Mr.  E.  Dedicott,  gar¬ 
dener  to  A.  H.  Wiggin,  Esq.,  Griffin  Hill  House,  Sellyoak,  for 
an  attractive  display  of  such  as  Hyacinths,  Narcissi,  and  other 
bulbs  grown  in  bowls  of  cocoa-nut  fibre.  The  fibre  has  served 
the  purpose  for  three  seasons.  The  exhibit  included  Cycla¬ 
mens  and  a  small  collection  of  sound,  moderate-sized  Onions  and 
extra  fine  Shallots  as  examples  grown  in  the  district.  Mr. 
Dedicott  remarked  that  during  this  season  considerable  com¬ 
plaint  had  exi.sted  regarding  commercial  Onions  being  found 
diseased  (black)  in  central  portion  of  the  bulb,  whereas  those- 
grown  by  himself  were  perfectly  sound. 
Trade  Catalogues  Received. 
E.  P.  Dixon  &  Sons,  Hull. — Farm  Seeds. 
Kent  and  Brydon,  Darlington. — Farm  Seeds. 
Little  &  Ballantine,  Carlisle. — Farm  Seeds. 
