1905] Botanical Branch. 203 



species which apparently originated accidentally. He says : 

 " Sprengler, an apothecary in Heidleberg, discovered in his medi- 

 cinal garden in which Chehdomum niaj'us was cultivated a new 



form of Chelido?iim)i with divided leaves and laciniate petals 



The new species was found to be self-sustaining and in repeated 

 cultural tests has shown no tendency to revert to C. niajus." 



During the discussion Mr. W. T. Macoun stated that among 

 seeds of C. laciniatum received from Upsala and grown at the 

 Experimental Farm, only twenty per cent, had proved to be that 

 species, the remainder being C. ?7tajus. It is, of course, possible 

 that the seed may have been mixed, but if not, this disposes of 

 C. laciniatum as a species. Further tests will be made at the 

 Experimental Farm from their own seed. 



One of the members having suggested that the fact that the 

 Early Rose and some other varieties of potatoes no longer ripened 

 seeds was an evidence that these varieties were degenerating, it 

 was brought out in discussion that the reverse was the case. The 

 energy which formerly was required to mature the seed now went 

 to increase the size and number of the tubers. Mr. W. T. Macoun 

 expressed the opinion that if by spraying and watering growing 

 potatoes could bs carried past the time when the stalks usually dry 

 up a greatly increased crop would be the result as this would 

 give an opportunity for the small tubers to grow and ripen. 



A description of an interesting experiment on the vitality of 

 the common buttercup was given by Dr. Ami, details of which 

 appeared in the December number of The Naturalist. 



The third of the series of meetings in connection with the 

 Botanical Branch of the Club was held at the residence of Mr. H. 

 M. Ami on the evening of Dec. 6th, 1904. There were present 

 Messrs. John Macoun, W. T. Macoun, R. B. Whyte, A. E. Att- 

 wood, D. A. Campbell, T. E. Clarke, H. St. Jacques, and Roy 

 Cameron. Mr. E. Stewart, of the Forestry Branch of the Depart- 

 ment of the Interior, and Mr. Hamilton, of the Exhibition Division 

 of the Department of Agriculture, were present as guests. 



The topic chosen by the chairman for discussion was 

 " Conifers," and he introduced the subject with a brief paper on 

 **A typical young pine forest growing at Ironsides, near Ottawa," 



