Proceedings of Scienti/ic Instilulionf^ ^77 



garly fog, was placed in a water-tight box, about eight or nine inches deep, into 

 which the bulbs were placed in the end of September, without mould, and duly 

 ■watered. The result a( this experiment was highly favourable, and Sir Henry 

 Jardine, in moving that an extra medal be awarded for this novelty, complimented 

 Dr. Ross on its success, for which the Doctor, who was present, returned his ac- 

 'knowledgment. 



Another extra prize was awarded to Mr. John Mathison, gardener to the Lord 

 Register of Scotland at Arniston House, for a fine specimen of Rampions {Cam- 

 panula Rapunculus,) used as a sallad, and also as a second course vegetable. 



A very beautiful specimen of a new variety of the Seville (bitter) Orange, 

 which grows to a large size, was sent from the garden of Mr. Buchanan of Drum- 

 pellier, grown by JNIr. Thomas Carsewell, his gardener. The fruit was attached 

 to a small bough, and close by the fruit was a flower, which rendered this speci- 

 men of the orange-tree a curiosity. 



Besides the competition flowers, a great many very fine hyacinths were exhi- 

 bited from Drum Garden. A number af early tulips and hyacinths were sent 

 from the Experimental Garden, as a very beautiful plant of Azalea Ledifolia, or 

 White Chinese Azalea, which is one of the handsomest of the tribe, the flower 

 petals being larger than those of the more common kinds, and of a pu're paper 

 vhite. An excellent specimen of the PhcBnecoma Prolifera also graced the 

 table of the Hall, which, both in point of beauty and fragrance, was, considering 

 the early period of the year, as well decorated as we ever recollect to have seen it. 



Three ordinary and two corresponding members were admitted, and the meet- 

 ing adjourned. 



LONDON. 



Royal Society Feb. 11. A paper was read " On the twelfth axiom of the 



first book of Euclid ;" by Viscount Mahon. Also, " A further inquiry into the 

 comparative infrequency of calculous diseases among sea-faring people, with some 

 observations on the frequency of these diseases in Scotland ;" by A. Copland 

 Hutchinson, Esq. 



Feb. 18. A paper was read, entitled, " Observations made with the invaria- 

 ble pendulum, (Jones') No. 4. at the Royal Observatory, Cape of Good Hope, 

 for the purpose of determining the compression of the earth ;" by the Rev. Fearon 

 J'ellows, astronomer of the Cape Observatory ; communicated by the Lords of 

 the Admiralty, who also communicated a notice of a meteor observed at the Cape 

 of Good Hope, 19th October 1829, in a letter from Captain Ronald, assistant- 

 astronomer at the Cape Observatory. 



Read also, a memoir on the developement of Functions ; by J. Walsh, Esq. 



March 4. A paper was read, entitled, " On the efficiency of Steam-Engines;" 

 hy Davies Gilbert, Esq. 



Linnean Society Feb. 2. A paper was read, entitled, " The natural his- 

 tory of Petrophila, a lepidopterous genus in its larva state, inhabiting rivers, and 

 furnished with branchiae ;" by the Rev. Lansdown Guilding, B.A. F.L.S. &c. 



A paper was also read, " On the Functions of the Leaves of Plants ;" by 

 J. H. Dallas, M.D. F.L.S. 



• Geological Society. — Jan. 15. A paper was read, entitled, " On the Fossil 

 Fox of CEningen, with an account of the lacustrine deposit in which it was found ;" 

 by R. J. Murchison, Esq. Sec. G.S. &c. 



Feb. 15. A letter addressed to the secretary was read, entitled, " On the 

 animal remains found in the Transition Limestone of Plymouth ;" by the Rev. 

 Richard Hannah, F.G.S. 



Also was read, a paper " On the gradual excavation of the valleys in which 

 the 3Ieuse, the Moselle, and some other rivers flow ;" by G. Poulett Scrope, 

 Esq. F.G.S. F.R.S. 



