SUGGESTIONS ON FKUIT CLASSIFICATION. 309 



Agarics," by W. G. Smith, Esq. " Discussion on Fairy Rings." " Sapo- 

 naria Vaccciria" (with coloured plate,) by Dr. Bull. 



1870. — " On the Reproduction and Growth of the Mistletoe," by the 

 Eev. K. Blight. " On the Natural History of Aymestrey," (chiefly botany,) 

 by the Rev. Thos. Woodhouse. " The Beech-tree in Herefordshire," by 

 the Rev. Thos. Woodhouse. " The Mistletoe Oak 6f Llatigattocic 

 Lingoed," by Dr. Bull. "On the more rare Plants of the Longniynds," 

 by Dr. Griffith H. Griffiths. " On some curious Algae only apparent in 

 times of Drought, with notices of those that colour water in seasons of 

 high temperature," by Edwin Lees, Esq. " Notes on Fairy Rings," by 

 Prof. Buckn.an. " On the Larger Fungi of Trees," by W. G. Smith, 

 Esq. " Additions to the List of British Agarics," by W. G. Smith, E-^q. 

 "On Scleroderma Geaster, Fr.," by C. E. Broome, Esq.* "The Auto- 

 biography of Fries," witlr portrait, translated by James Renny, Esq. 



Many of the above papers are illustrated liy coloured plates, and it may 

 be observed that all other branches of science are equally well represented 

 in the volumes. It is a practical testimony to the local estimation in 

 which the Transactions are held that the earlier volumes have long been 

 out of print, and it is now scarcely possible to obtain a complete s^t. If 

 we might offer a hint, it would be that a larger edition of future volumes 

 should be issued, so that those who would gladly purchase them — and 

 tliey are many — may be enabled to do so. The President for this year is 

 Thomas Cam, Esq., and the Hon. Secretary the Rev. Sir George H. 

 Coruewall, Bart., M.A. 



^^tracts mxH ^bstriuls. 



SUGGESTIONS ON FRUIT CLASSIFICATION. 

 By Alexanuek Dickson, M.D., 



Regms Professor of Botaiitj iit the Uuiversiti/ of Glasgow. 

 {Read at the Meeting of the British Association, at Edinburgh, August 8, 1871.) 



Dr. Dickson referred to the confessedly unsatisfactory state of fruit- 

 classification, and to the very unnecessary extent of the existing termi- 

 nology, which is further complicated by a considerable amount of variance 

 among botanists as to the precise application of several of the terms em- 

 ployed. He was of the opinion, wliicii lie believed to be a growing one 

 among botanists, that the most convenient method of classitication was, 

 in the first place rigorously to restrict the dctinition of a "fruit" to the 

 mature or ripe pistil, excluding froui that delinition those modifications of 

 accessory parts or organs which, in many cases, are correlated therewith ; 

 and, secondly, to base the primary classification upon the general character 

 of the modification und(;rgone by the parts of tiie pistil in ripening, treat- 

 ing as of minor importance the characters involved in the (lescri[)ti(jn of 

 the llower, such as the superior or inferior position of the ovary, etc. 



T'he classification which Dr. Dickson suggests for tin; consideration of 

 botanists approaches most nearly to that indicated by Schneht in his 

 ' (jlrniidriss,' of which, indeed, it may be viewed as a modification and 

 expansion. Schacht grouped fruits under three; heads: — 1st. Capsular 



* Journ. Bot, IX. 129. t. c.wi. 



