1904] Report of Ninth Meeting of Botanical Branch. 179 



A discussion on the suh^tct of thorns and spines was intro- 

 duced bv Mr Campbell, who had specimens of the thorns of 

 Glcditschid friacauflios. There seemed a doubt as to whether this 

 tree bore thorns or spines, but the conclusion reached was that 

 whereas some of the younger thorns, which were really from 

 supernumerary buds, resembled spines, not having a marked con- 

 nection at first with the woody tissue, the older thorns were un- 

 doubtedly true thorns. 



There was a number of interesting- specimens shown by Dr. 

 Fletcher, who referred briefly to each one of them, .\mong these 

 was an interesting crab apple from British Columbia, apparently 

 a natural hybrid between Pynts rk'nhiris and the apple, which had 

 been sent by Mr. Orion Bowman, Upper Sumas, B.C. The fruit 

 was larger than ririi/an'.w being i}^ inches long by a little over 

 one inch in diameter, and of better quality. .Egopodium Podo- 

 o/uirid V(in'co(ifiiiii which was shown is a variegated leaved plant 

 found in many gardens, but the name of which is known by very 

 few, as is shown by the frequent inquiries. Mafricaria inodoni, 

 which is a weed in the Maritime Provinces, was shown by Dr. 

 Fletcher to make a good cut flower, lasting a long time in water. 

 He also had specimens of American mistletoe, Arcculhobium 

 Anu'ric((iiii»i, parasitic on Pinus conforta, from British Columbia. 

 Indian corn showing abnormal cobs among the male inflorescence 

 or tassel. Some fine water color paintings of Manitoba wild 

 flowers were also exhibited by Dr. Fletcher, framed in the method 

 known as passepartout, which the exhibitor thought was worth 

 bringing before the section as a very cheap and efficient way of 

 saving such drawings and paintings as frequently come into the 

 hands of a botanist. 



The chairman read an article developing the economic aspect 

 of Nature Study, and invited criticisms of the same. An animated 

 discussion on the whole subject of Nature Study followed. 



Prot. Macoun said that he had collected 958 species of 

 flowering plants in the Ottawa district this year. Those present 

 at this, the ninth meeting of the year, were Dr. Wm. Saunders, 

 Prof. J. Macoun, Dr. J. Fletcher, Mr. .\. E. Attwood, Mr. D. A. 

 Campbell, Mr. C. Guillet, Dr. E. Blackadar. Mr. St. Jacques, Mr. 

 J. M. Macoun and the chairman. W. T. M. 



