] 886.] SOCIETIES. 041 



Structure, and Pollination of ScropJmlaria aquaiica and ;S^ nodosa" 

 by T. Wemyss Fulton, M.B. " On Calamagrostis strigosa, Hartm., 

 as a British Plant, with records of others new to Scotland," by A. 

 W. Bennett, F.L.S., Croydon, communicated by Dr. Macfarlano. 

 Exhibition of Ustilago marina, from E. M. Holmes, F.L.S., F.R.II.S. ; 

 and Paccinia Bnxi, horn Miss C. Owen Clorey. "Report on the 

 Progress of Vegetation at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh," 

 by Robert Lindsay, Curator. The weather during tlie month of 

 December was characterized by great variableness and sudden 

 changes of temperature during the greater portion, except from the 

 r)th to the 11th, when steady frost prevailed. The rainfall was very 

 light for December. Snow fell on the 9lh and the 20Lh, but was 

 slight and qnickly disappeared. "Report on the Temperature and 

 Vegetation at the Glasgow Botanic Institute," by R. BuUen, Curator. 



SCOTTISH SEED AND NURSERY TRADE ASSOCIATION. 



THIS Association held its tenth annual meeting in the AVaterloo 

 Hotel on Wednesday, 6th January. jNIr. John ]\Ieth^•■en (of 

 Messrs. T. Methven & Sons) occupied the chair. The annual report 

 was read by Mr. David Hunter, S.S.C., Edinburgh, secretary and law 

 ngent of the Association, which showed that the membership comprised 

 twenty-eight firms. The question as to the advisability of printing 

 the first prize essay of last year by Mr. Wm. ]\I'Intosh, Lovat Estates 

 Office, Beauly, on " The best and most economical system for the 

 afforestation of waste and otherwise unprofitable lands in the United 

 Kingdom," which was remitted to the committee at the last annual 

 meeting with power to do so if they thought proper, was settled by 

 the committee accepting an offer by the publishers of Forestry to 

 print the essay in that journal, and to supply the Association with 

 100 copies in pamphlet form gratis, which was done, and copies had 

 been sent to all members of the Association. The committee had 

 also resolved that no prize should be offered for essays during the 

 year then current. The report was adopted. It was remitted to 

 the committee of the Association to offer a prize for an essay 

 connected with the seed trade, the sul)ject to be fixed by the 

 members of the committee. 



At the close of the business proceedings over thirty gentlemen sat 

 down to dinner. Mr. R. B. Laird, of Edinburgh and Dundee, occupied 

 the chair, and Mr. James AVatt, of Messrs. Little & Ballantyne, 

 Carlisle, the vice-chair. The usual loyal and patriotic toasts having 

 been drunk, the Chairman gave the toast of tlie evening, and in a 

 felicitous speech touched on the material and social advantages of 

 the Association to the Scottish seed and nurserv trade. 



