PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



370 



been thought necessary. To eflect these salutary changes, we must in- 

 vite tiie aid of Local Natural History Societies ; and botanists will require 

 to give their assistance in supplying us witii exhaustive monographs of 

 separate genera, or other naturally allied forms. 



The following communications were read : — " On the Zones of Conifer cb 

 from the Mediterranean to the Crest of the Maritime Alps." By M. 

 Moggridge, Esq. The following table shows the lowest and highest 

 elevations in feet at which the diflerent species are found : — 



Pinus Pinea 

 P. maritima 

 P. halepensis . 

 Cupressus serapervirens 

 Juniperus phoeiiicia . 

 Pinus sylvestris 

 Abies excelsa . 

 A. pectinata 

 Taxus baccata . 

 Larix europseus 

 Pinus Cerabra . 

 Juniperus communis . 



The starting-points from the coast embi*aced the line from Monaco to 

 Ventimeglia. "Note on the Therapeutics of FkijaaliH Alki^ken/i." By 

 E. Drummond, Esq. Mr. Drummond states that he is at present engaged 

 investigating the therapeutics of Pk;/iiaH>i, an almost, if not quite, obsolete 

 drug, which is mentioned by Dioscorides. It possesses in a considerable 

 degree the hypnotic power, which is the main characteristic of the Suln- 

 nacefS. It is also diuretic, which, perhaps, is due to its sedative influ- 

 ence, relaxing the spasmodic contraction of the capillary vesse's of the 

 renal system. It had been used in extreme cases of gouty paroxysm with 

 good eflPect. " Notes on the York and Lancaster Rose." By Mr. (Jorrie. 

 This is described by Parkinson in his ' Garden of Pleasant Flowers,' pub- 

 lished in 1656, as Rosa versicolor. The specimen now on the table shows 

 this to be a variety of the R'/sa danuisceiia of Miller; and as its flowers 

 agree with the description there can be no doubt but that it is tli.e true 

 York and Lancaster Jiose, which name is now generally applied to the 

 Gloria-mnndi Rose of the florists, which is of conqiarativuly recent intro- 

 duction, and a variety of the R').'ia (jnllica, or French Rose. " Notes on 

 some Sections of Stems of Welliiiglonia gigantca grown at Linton Park, 

 Maidstone." By Mr. M'Nab. — A letter was niad from Mr. A. Stephen 

 Wilson, in which he stated that he had been occupied for some yo;irs 

 investigating certain points regarding the cereal Grasses, and thouu:lit it 

 not improbable that the infidix loliuni of V^irgil and others included 

 other species of Loliuni, and that the ancient farmers may have mistaken 

 ergotized seeds for natural an(( healthy ones, lie had found this sciison 

 many of the common grasses ergotized, and he intended sowing Lolium 

 temulentnm in the open field, in order to see whether it is us liable to be 



