March  B,  IGO?. 
JOURNAL  CF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GlRbFNER. 
R.H.S.,  Scientific  Committee,  Feb.  21. 
Present;  Dr.  M.  T.  Masters  (in  the  chair);  Messr.s.  (iordon, 
liowle.s,  Shea,  Holmes.  Michael.  Saunders,  Massee,  Worsdell,  Douglas, 
Baker;  Drs.  Cooke  and  Bcndle ;  Revs.  W.  Wilks  and  (!.  Henslow, 
lion.  see. 
Ghi-ysanthemum  diseased. — With  referenee  to  the  specimens  sent  to 
the  last  meeting.  Mr.  Michael  reported  that  there  were  only  one  or  two 
aphides,  but  sections  showed  abundance  of  eelworms,  which  had  caused 
the  injury. 
Crjpripedium  Fairrieanum  hybrids.  —  With  reference  to  the  fact 
that  hybrids  of  this  plant  refuse  to  cross  with  each  other,  Mr.  Jas. 
Douglas  sent  the  followdng  communication  on  the  subject;  ‘•Some 
remarks  were  made  at  a  recent  meeting  of  the  committee  on  crossing 
Cypripediums.  and  a  misunderstanding  arose  thereupon.  It  was 
stated  as  a  fact,  and  so  far  as  I  am  aware  the  statement  is 
correct,  that  hybrids  of  C.  Fairrieanum  will  not  cross  with  each 
other.  C.  Fairrieanum  is  a  very  scarce  plant  in  Britain  ;  except  a 
mall  plant  in  the 
collection  of  the  pre¬ 
sident  of  the  R.H.S. 
I  am  not  aware  of 
any  other.  Conse¬ 
quently,  hybridists 
are  anxious  to  obtain 
seedlings  with  as 
much  of  the  character 
of  this  scarce  a  ariety 
as  possible.  They 
have  made  many 
attempts  by  reeross- 
ing  the  C.  Fairrie¬ 
anum  hybrids  in 
existence,  but  have 
always  failed.  al¬ 
though  other  hybrid 
Cypripediums  will 
cross  w’ith  C.  Fairrie¬ 
anum.  For  instance, 
C.  oenanthum  super¬ 
bum  crossed  with  C. 
Fairrieanum  pro¬ 
duced  a  vei’y  scarce 
and  beautiful  variety, 
Baron  Schroder ;  C. 
vexillarium  was  ob¬ 
tained  by  crossing 
C.  barbatum  with  C. 
Fairrieanum,  and  this 
hybrid  on  being 
crossed  with  C.  bel- 
latulum  produced  C. 
bellatulo  -  vexillarium , 
but  C'.  vexillarium  was 
the  pollen  parent.  The 
object  of  bringing  this 
matter  before  the 
Scientific  Committee 
at  all  would  be  to 
ascertain  why,  if  other 
hybrid  Cypripediums 
Avill  cross  with  each 
other,  how  is  it  that 
C.  vexillarium  will  not 
cross  with  C.  Niobe, 
or  why  C.  .Juno  will 
not  cross  with  C.  Rose,  Pride  of  Reigate 
Arthurianum,  or  any 
other  of  the  numerous  ways  in  which  the  C.  Fairrieanum  hybrids  may 
be  crossed  with  each  other?  The  pollen  is  potent  enough  if  used  on 
other  species  of  Cypripetliums.” 
Parasite  on  Daphne  mezeretim.  —  Di\  Clooke  sent  the  following 
report ; — “  The  mould  on  twigs  of  Daphne  viezereiim,  submitted  by 
Mr.  Holmes,  consists  of  dense  tufts  of  Polyactis,  with  coloured  hyphm 
and  elliptical  spores,  probably  Polyactis  cana.  In  each  instance  there 
appears  to  have  been  a  wound  in  the  bark,  upon  whicb  the  mould 
became  established,  but  originally  it  Avas  saprophytic  in  its  habits, 
lake  others  of  the  genus,  it  may  become  parasitic,  but  in  this  instance 
there  is  no  indication  of  its  having  injured  the  plant  whilst  sound, 
but  to  have  attached  itself  to  Avounds  already  existent.” 
Arctic  garden  at  Kew. — An  extract  from  the  “Times”  Avas  sent 
by  the  Editor  of  the  “  Cold  Storage  and  lee  Trades  Review,”  in  AA’hich 
t  Avas  suggested  that  an  “Arctic  house”  should  be  formed  at  Kcav, 
“  Avherein  dwarf  WilloAvs  and  other  ciArious  vegetation  of  the  Polar 
regions  might  be  seen  associated  Avith  some  pretty  effects  of  snOAv 
and  ice,  AA'bich  might  be  pi’oduced  in  summer.”  It  Avas  observed  by 
the  committee  that  Arctic  plants  groAV  better  in  temperate  climates 
than  in  the  Arctic  regions,  as  Papaver  nudicanle,  Avhich  is  found  in 
Spitzbergen,  and  that  many  of  them  are  noAv  groAving  in  Kbav  Gardens, 
so  that  the  addition  of  a  “  cold  house  ”  Avould  be  superfluous. 
blenders  Principles  applied  to  CaL.nthe  hybrids. — Captain  Hurst 
sent  the  following  communication  on  this  subject ; — “  With  reference 
to  the  hybrids  C.  X  Oakwood  Ruby  and  -C.  x  Sibyl,  sent  to  the  last 
meeting  liy  Mr.  Chapman,  and  to  his  expression  of  opinion  that  they 
‘prove  the  inapplicability  of  Mendel’s  Daws  to  Orchids.’  If  the 
pedigree  of  these  two  hybrids  is  correctly  recorded  in  Mr.  Chapman’s 
notes,  it  seems  ipiite  clear  that  avc  liaA’e  in  them  a  typical  Meiidelian 
case,  and  that  Mr.  Cliapman’s  opinion  to  the  contrary  must  lie  due  to 
a  misunderstanding  of  the  Mendelian  principles.  According  to  Mr. 
Chapman’s  notes,  C.  x  OakAvood  Ruby  (Avith  darkly  coloured  rtoAvers) 
and  tk  x  Bibyl  (with  pure  Avhite  floAvers)  Avere  raised  from  the  same 
capsule  Avith  the  folloAving  pedigree,  Avhich,  for  the  sake  of  simplicity 
1  IniA'c  reduced  to  Mendelian  terms  : — 
( r.  rosei  X  C.  vestita  A  =  C.  x  Veitchi  wars. 
First'ffeneration  J.  Rose  x  AVhite  j  =  I.igLt  rose  to  deep  rose-c innire. 
I  Dominant  x  Recessive)  =  D.R. 
Secnnil  generation. x  R.  =  1  D.R.  +  1  R. 
Third  generation  to  siventh  generation. — D.R.  x  D.R.  =  ID  +  2  P.E.  4-  1  R^ 
In  this  ease,  therefore  by  continued  selection  of  the  darkest  D.R.’s 
in  each  gencraticn, 
the  seventh  genera¬ 
tion  produces  the 
darkest  variety,  C.  x 
<  lakAvood  Ruby  (D.R.), 
and  also  the  pure 
Avhite  C.  X  Sibyl  (R.), 
which  is  in  strict 
accordance  Avith  the 
Mendelian  expecta¬ 
tion.  Further,  accord¬ 
ing  to  the  Mendelian 
principles,  C.  X  Oak- 
Avood  Ruby,  being  an 
impure  Dominant 
(D.R.),  should,  Avhen 
self-fertilised,  con¬ 
tinue  to  throAV  dark 
forms,  rose  forms, 
Av'iite  forms,  and  all 
intermediate  colours ; 
Avliile  C.  X  Sibyl,  if  a 
pure  Recessive  Avhen 
self-fertilised,  should 
throAV  idiites  only. 
Here,  then,  is  a  fine 
opportunity  for  Mr. 
Chapman.  Avith  his 
Avell  knoAA’n  emltmal 
skill  and  his  OakAVOod 
advantages,  to  test 
Meadcl’s  principles  by 
actual  experiment.” 
Alcohol  from  sew- 
diist. — Mr.  A.  Rick- 
mann  Avrote  to  inqi;ire 
for  information  as  the 
probable  cause  of  the 
tlifference  in  the  be¬ 
ll  iviour  of  pine  and 
oak  Avood  saAvdust  ini 
Europe  and  America  . 
J’he  process  of  tl  e 
manufacture  of  alec- 
h  j1  from  it  being  iden¬ 
tical,-  the  result  Avas 
that  40  per  cent,  less 
of  alcohol  Avas  ob¬ 
tained  in  the  U.S.  than 
at  Aix-la-Chap.‘l!e. 
The  names  of  the  trees  of  AA’hich  the  Avcod  Avas  employed  Avere  i  ot 
mentioned,  but  the  Committee  agreed  Avith  Mr.  Rickmann  s  sugg(  stioi  , 
that  “the  American  Avood  must  be  in  its  cemponent  parts  c'.ifftrdt 
from  Avood  groAvn  in  Europe,  in  a  similar  manner  as  American  Win  at 
is  different  from  English  Wdieat.”  The  cause  of  the  difference  coi  Id 
onlv  be  disroA'ered  by  separate  analysis  and  experimental  tests. 
Cyclamen  monstrous. — Mr.  A.  Sutton  sent  a  plant  Avith  one  cr  (avo 
of  the  floAvers  having  a  foliaceous  bract  beloAV  it,  a  not  uncemmen. 
occurrence,  inquii'ing  it  it  is  likely  to  be  perpetuated.  IMr.  Gordoiv 
observed  that  he  found  a  considerable  percentage  of  seeds  laisi  c^ 
from  floAvers  thus  provided  Avith  a  leafy  bract  Avere  reproduced,  but 
if  it  Avere  cultiA'ated,  as  Mr.  Sutton  observes,  “  one  ffoAver  stem  avouUI 
give  an  almost  perfect  buttonhole  of  a  floAvcr  and  leaf  together.  ’ 
Carnation  cuttings  dying. — Mr.  E.  H.  Jenkins  sent  some  cuttings, 
the  upper  part  of  them  dying.  The  cause  Avas  pronounced  to  be  tlu; 
hard  stem  (not  sufficiently  herbaceous),  Avhich  resulted  in  insufficient 
root  action.  The  damp  Aveather  had  possibly  encouraged  leafy  groAvth. 
so  that  the  main  shoot  Avas  drained  of  its  supply  of  sap.  There  Avas 
no  disease  present. 
Conifers. — Dr.  Masters  exhibited  a  large  series  of  cones  of  various 
species,  explaining  their  histoi-ical  localities  and  other  details.  A  vote 
of  thanks  Avas  uiven  for  his  interesting  communicaticn. 
(See  “  Striped  Roses.” 
