but Proceedings of the Botanical Society of 



of Echinoccreus that had been placed by him in a closely 

 stoppered bottle fully two years before amid a little soil and 

 moisture. The cactus had grown luxuriantly, while a rich 

 crop of grass came up yearly to die down each autumn. The 

 specimen excited special interest. 



Dr. Macfarlane then described a large set of specimen 

 plants kindly sent by Mr. Craig, florist, from his green- 

 houses. Chief amongst these were two new varieties of the 

 Boston fern, that showed a marked variation from the 

 species, also several species of Asparagus, Begonia and 

 Dracccna. 



Mr. Schumo referred to one or two exhibits recently 

 acquired while on a trip to Jamaica and Martinique. 



February 20. Dr. Miller, President, in the chair. Dr. H. 

 S. Conard spoke on "New African Water-Lilies and Recent 

 Notes on the Genus." He stated that in the genus Nymphcca 

 as in Viola, etc., well-marked variations occurred, and it 

 was often difficult to determine whether these should be 

 regarded as varieties or species. He cited as an example N. 

 gigantea of Western \ustralia, and the so-called variety 

 violacea from Cape York peninsula. A number of addi- 

 tional cases were cited. He then dealt with the distribution 

 and variations of the African species, specially pointing out 

 the puzzling intergradation of N. cocrulea and A'', capensis, 

 that have been described under such names as A^. coerulea 

 albiflora, N. abbreviata, etc. 



Dr. H. E. Wetherill then gave "Exhibition and Observa- 

 tions on Some New Botanical Instruments." These included 

 a pocket magnifying lens with two magnifying powers, 

 the whole capable of being fitted so as to act as a range 

 finder, a Lloyd hydrodyke, a wet and dry bulb hygrometer, 

 also a hygroscope of effective action and inexpensive price. 



Miss Edith Farr then exhibited and commented on a set 

 of herbarium specimens received by the Botanical Depart- 

 ment from Biltmore and which were being incorporated in 

 the University Herbarium. She specially emphasized the 



