67 
had carried out a series of pot experiments with corn, wheat and peas. 
The results showed clearly that this chemical proved most disastrous to 
vegetation. He therefore inferred that in many instances the sterile 
character of the soil was due in part, and in some instances, perhaps, 
wholly to the presence of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts). 
Elaborate pot experiments were then instituted with wheat, pea s 
and corn, to find out if the addition of (a) carbonate ot lime and (b) 
lime to a soil containing magnesium sulphate would render this 
substance non-injurious and allow the plants to come to maturity. 
While the carbonate of lime proved beneficial, lime proved much more 
so. During the course of the experiments careful records were made at 
intervals of a week, and mathematical plottings of these were shown to 
the meeting. Photographs, also illustrating the growth of the plants in 
the treated and untreated soil, were exhibited. The chemistry under- 
lying the changes induced in the alkaline soils by these remedial agents 
was explained. The value of lime in improving soils impregnated 
with magnesium sulphate was fully established by the scientific data 
here brought forward. Toronto Empire. 
(In our brief report of the proceedings of the Royal Society we 
were able only to refer to the papers read in section IV, and we there- 
fore reproduce with much pleasure this abstract of the paper presented 
to Section III by our Delegate. Ed.) 
FLORA OTTAWAENSIS. 
By James Fletcher, F.R.S.C. 
The annotated list of the Flora of the Ottawa district which was 
begun three years ago in the Ottaiva Naturalist and the completion of 
which was unavoidably delayed, first of all by illness of the writer and 
afterwards by press of official work, will be completed in this volume of 
the Naturalist. Members will please observe that the sheets issued 
with each number are unattached and that the pagination begins at page 
No. 78 in continuation of the part issued with the May number 1890. 
Some members will receive the forthcoming sneets who were not sub- 
scribers to the Club when the former parts were issued. They may 
perhaps be able, with a little enquiry, to procure the first 77 pages from 
some members not specially interested in Botany. 
