704 SOCIETIES. [Mak. 



while those obtained from mahogany bore a greater, though not at 

 all a close, resemblance to rosewood. Mr. Eobert Lindsay, Curator 

 of the Pioyal Botanic Garden, submitted his report on the progress 

 of vegetation during January. He said that at the Eoyal Botanic 

 Garden last month had not been exceeded in severity by any month 

 since December 1882. The first three days were mild and genial, 

 but they were follo\Aed by a succession of severe frosts and snow- 

 storms till the end of the month, unbroken, except by an occasional 

 flash of lightning or a hailstorm. Several very low readings of the 

 thermometer were registered, the lowest being on the 19 th, when 

 the glass fell to 8 deg., or 24 deg. of frost. This had not been 

 exceeded since 15th December 1882, M-hen 4 deg. more of frost 

 were registered. 



SCOTTISH HORTICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. 



ON the 2nd February a meeting of this Association was held at 

 5 St. Andrew Square, Edinburgh. ]\Ir. Milne presided. A 

 paper on " The Ivy " was read by Mr. John Methven (of ]\Iessrs. 

 Methven & Son), Vice-President. At the outset he gave a historical 

 and poetical account of the ivy, in which he stated that in the 

 earliest days of civilisation it acquired renown by its association 

 with religious rites and social usages. Mr. Llethven proceeded to 

 give descriptions of the various kinds of ivy and their cultivation, 

 and in this connection exhibited specimens of thirty-three different 

 varieties. He next spoke of its usefulness as a town garden plant, 

 referring specially to the bank of ivy in West Princes Street 

 Gardens, Edinburgh. No other plant, he asserted, could be grown 

 so effectively on that bank as the ivy, and Mr. M'Leod deserved 

 credit for having adopted it for that purpose. He also pointed out 

 the suitability of the plant for window culture. A discussion 

 followed, after which Mr. Methven was awarded a vote of thanks 

 for his paper. 



The following interesting collection of early spring flowers from 

 Easter Duddingston Lodge was exhibited : — Garrya clliptlca, 

 Hellchorus nigcr, H. n. angustifolius, Hcpatica triloba, H. t. alba, 

 H. i. rubra, H. angulosa, Galanthus ijlicatus, Eranthis hycmalis, 

 and Erica herbacca alba. 



A new leek — a hybrid between the Musselburgh and Henry 

 prize varieties — sent by Mr. Howie, of Inch House, Liberton, was 

 also shown. 



