December  24,  1903. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAIE  GARDENER. 
587 
R.H.S.,  Scientific  Committee  (Sept.  15  ) 
Violets  diseased. — Mr.  Worsley  showed  specimens  which  Dr.  Cooke 
pronounced  to  be  attacked  by  Uroeystis  violte,  recently  figured  in 
Journal  K.H.S.,  “  Pests  of  the  Flower  Garden,”  plate  I.,  fig.  19. 
Longevity  of  Fern  spores. — A  communication  was  received  from 
Mr.  H.  Coleby,  Wargrave,  describing  an  instance  of  a  piece  of  a  stem 
of  a  Dieksonia,  possibly  twenty  years  old,  on  which,  when  broken  off 
and  kept  moist,  seedlings  of  Gymnogramma  aurea  began  to  appear. 
It  was  suggested  that  the  spores  of  the  latter  had  lain  dormant  for 
that  length  of  time.  Mr.  Druery  contributed  the  following  note  :  “I 
have  raised  Ferns  from  spores  seven  to  eight  years  old.  The  conditions 
mentioned  by  Mr.  Coleby  strike  me  as  being  exactly  such  as  to  main¬ 
tain  the  power  of  germination  for  a  very  long  time — i.c.,  absence  of 
stimulating  moisture  or  warmth.  I  have  no  doubt  that  the  Fern  arose 
from  dormant  spores.  It  is  remarkable  that  only  one  kind  of  Fern 
germinated,  though  we  must  assume  that  other  Fern  spores  were 
present  in  the  old  Dieksonia  stem.”  It  was  suggested,  however,  that 
the  Dieksonia  stem  might  have  been  previously  utilised  for  growing 
only  the  Gymnogramma. 
Ash-wood  with  grubs,  —  Specimens  were  received  from  Mr. 
.1.  Gregory,  Croydon,  with  live  gx-ubs  two  years  after  the  tree  had 
been  cut  down.  The  wood  outwardly  showed  no  signs,  but  on  being 
sawn  asunder  both  dead  and  living  grubs  were  frequently  found.  Mr. 
Saunders  contributed  the  following  observations  :  “  The  insects  found 
in  the  Ash  timber  are  beetles  belonging  to  the  family  of  Longicorns, 
and  to  the  genus  Clytixs  ;  but  not  being  an  English  species,  and 
Pear,  Bergamotte  Esperen. 
probably  American,  I  have  not  yet  been  able  to  obtain  the  specific 
name.  The  grubs  of  these  beetles  are  sometimes  vei-y  long-lived,  and 
they  remain  for  years  in  wood  where  their  presence  is  quite  un¬ 
suspected.  A  specimen  of  Longieorn  beetle  has  been  known  to  emerge 
from  furniture,  the  wood  of  which  was  felled  twenty-eight  years 
previously.  It  is  now  supposed  that  the  grubs  which  take  such  a  long 
time  in  undei’going  their  metamorphoses  have  been  hatched  from  eggs 
which  were  laid  in  a  ti’ee  which  had  just  been  felled,  or  was  cut  down 
shortly  afterwards,  so  that  the  grub  was  soon  obliged  to  feed  on  very 
dry  wood  from  which  it  obtained  but  little  nourishment.” 
Albinism  in  Shirley  Poppies. — A  communication  was  received  from 
Mr.  J.  Biclgood,  of  which  the  following  is  a  brief  abstract.  It  will 
appear  in  full  in  the  Journal  of  the  R.H.S.  He  would  recognise 
four  forms  of  albinism  in  flowers — viz.,  incomplete,  complete,  partial, 
and  local.  After  giving  illustrations  of  the  first  three  from  Orchids, 
the  last  applies  to  Poppies.  The  original  plant  of  the  Shirleys  had  a 
Avhite  edging  to  the  petals.  It  was  evident,  therefore,  that  this 
plant  had  a  tendency  towards  albinism.  The  black  blotch 
has  disappeared  from  all  Mr.  Wilks’  stock,  being  replaced  by 
white.  Other  gi’owers  have  experienced  reversion  to  the  black 
blotch.  This  is  caused  by  a  very  sti'ong  solution  of  a  dark 
red  pigment  contained  in  the  epidermal  cells  on  each  surface  of  the 
petal ;  the  usual  cause  of  blacks  being  dark  red  overlying  green,  as 
on  the  leaves  of  Arum  maculatum.  The  colour  in  the  outer  portion 
of  the  petals  was  also  in  the  epidermal  cells.  On  applying  miehro- 
chemical  tests  the  behaviour  of  the  colours  of  the  two  regions  in 
question  was  very  diffei’ent.  Strong  sulphxxi'ie  acid  changed  the  black 
blotch  to  pink,  brick-red,  orange,  the  outer  part  the  same,  bxxt  passed 
on  to  yellow,  finally  disappearing.  Iodine  in  potassium  iodide  changed 
the  blotch  to  port  Avine  colour  ;  the  outer  part  slowly  faded.  Solution 
of  caustic  potash  changed  the  blotch  to  a  deep  blue,  then  faded  out ; 
the  outer  part  to  greenish-yelloAv,  then  faded  out.  Neither  of  the 
pigments  shows  the  typical  reactions  of  the  cyanic  sei'ies,  and  still 
less  of  the  xanthic. 
Supertuberation  in  Potatoes. — The  folloAving  communication  was 
received  from  Mr.  F.  C.  Davidson,  Wickham  Bishops,  Essex : — 
“  M.  N.  Bernard  propounded  the  theory,  in  ‘  Rev.  Gen.  de  Bot.,’  that 
tuberisation  was  due  to  a  fungus,  and  had  found  it  in  the  Potato ;  by 
experiments  there  Avas  a  relation  betAveen  the  date  of  infection  of  the 
soil  and  the  date  of  tubei'isation.  I  Avould  suggest  a  practical  applica¬ 
tion  of  this  theory.”  Referiing  to  Dx-.  B.Dyer  and  Mr.  Shrivell’s  paper 
on  “  Manuxing  Market  Gax’den  Crops”  (Jouxmal  R.H.S. ,  xxA'ii..  p.  995) 
he  observes — “  That  Avhereas  such  cx-ops  as  Cabbages  may  be  groAvh 
as  Avell  Avith  artificial  manure  as  Avith  dung,  indeed,  it  Avould  seem 
better  and  far  more  economically  ;  yet,  this  does  not  hold  trixe  of  root 
cx-ops,  especially  of  Potatoes.  For  instance,  in  the  early  vax-ieties  the 
average  crop  for  some  years  was — from  50  loads  of  dung,  7  tons  7  CAvt.; 
from  25  loads,  5  tons  14  CAvt. ;  from  (no  dung)  phosphates  and  4  cwt. 
of  nitrate  of  soda,  3  tons  6  CAvt. ;  and  from  tlie  saxne.  Avith  potasli, 
4  tons  10  CAvt.  The  gap  hex-e,  though  potash  fills  it  up  a  little,  is  most 
striking.  If  dung  be  favourable  to  bacteria  they  may  infest  the  soil 
and  promote  tuberisation.  If  this  conjecture  proA'e  to  be  a  fact,  it 
might  have  a  very  great  influence  on  the  cultivation  root  crops.” 
Pear,  Bergamotte  Esperen. 
After  the  voluminous  con'o- 
spondence  in  our  columns  during 
April  and  May,  1901,  on  the  merits 
of  this  Pear  consequent  upon  the 
Council  of  the  Royal  Hoiticultural 
Society  refusing  to  uphold  the 
UAvai'd  of  merit  recommended  by  the 
Fruit  Committee  about  that  period, 
it  Avill  be  unnecessary  to  say  much 
of  this  variety  noAv.  Bei'gamotte 
Esperen  is  an  excellent  Pear  where 
it  succeeds,  but  some  groAvei-s,  i.e., 
tho.se  on  cold  soils,  do  not  find  it 
ripen  Avell,  or  to  produce  good  eat¬ 
ing  fruit.  As  a  Avall-cordon  in  Avarm 
soils  it,  hoAvever,  produces  fine¬ 
grained,  melting  sxigar  fruits,  and 
bears  very  fi-eel3-.  Our  illustra¬ 
tion  shoAvs  its  character  iii  this 
respect,  and  the  fruits  ai-e  each  of 
a  roundish  form.  Sins  broad  and  as 
deep.  It  comes  in  after  Wiixter 
Nelis,  la.sting  in  use  for  dessert 
fi-om  February  till  April.  “  As  it 
bears  in  clusters,  the  fruits  should 
be  carefidly-  thinned.” 
Packing  for  Export. 
The  bari-el  most  commonly  used 
in  Nova  Scotia  is  made  of  Fir  staves 
and  Bii-ch  hooixs,  holding  about 
1401b  of  fruit,  and  co.sting  lOd. 
Barrels  Avith  staves  of  Maple  or 
Elm  Avith  Elm  hoops  xxre  msed  to  a 
lessei-  extent,  but  ai-e  commonly 
u.sed  in  Ontario,  UpjAer  Canada,  and 
the  United  States.  These  hold  about  1501b  of  Apples  and  co.st  Is. 
In  packing,  the  bottom  and  bilge  hoops  are  first  nailed,  then  a 
thin  layer  of  wood  avooI  called  ”  Excelsior,”  is  placed  at  the 
bottom,  next  a  sheet  of  Avhite  paper  the  same  size  as  the  end  of 
the  barrel.  A  layer  of  “headens”  is  then  laid  ;  these  are  Apples 
of  average  size,  those  best  coloured  being  chosen.  These  ai-e 
placed  stem  doAvnwards.  The  bari-el  is  then  filled  by  carefully 
emptying  in  the  fi’uit,  usixig  hinge-handled  baskets.  The  barrel 
is  gently  shaken  each  time  fruit  is  added,  so  as  to  pack  the  fruit 
closely.  It  is  filled  lini  to  2in  above  the  rim.  In  order  to  get 
the  Apples  tightly  packed  so  that  they  do  not  move  after  packing 
and  become  “  slack  ”  in  travelling,  a  round  board  lined  Avith  sack¬ 
ing  or  .saddler’s  felt  is  placed,  padded  side  downAvards,  on  the 
top  of  the  Apples ;  the  barrel  i.s  rocked  on  the  floor  if  of  cement, 
or  if  not,  on  a  heaA-y  plank.  The  Apples  thus  shaken  and  pressed 
sink  to  aboixt  the  level  of  the  lum;  any  spaces  ax’e  filled  Avith 
small  Apples,  thexi  another  piece  of  white  paper  is  placed  on  the 
Apples;  then  the  lid  is  laid  on,  and  the  screAV  or  lever  pi-ess  is 
applied  to  the  bari-el  to  press  the  lid  into  position  ;  folloAved  by 
the  tightening  of  the  chine  hoops  and  nailing  of  the  heads  and 
hopps  together  with  the  owner’s  name  and  address,  ai-e  stencilled 
on  the  top  of  the  bai-i-el ;  the  name  of  the  sale.sman  on  the  bottom. 
