LIXNEAN SOCIETY OF LONDOjS". I$ 



A letter addressed by Dr. J. C. McWaltee, Capt. E.A.M.C., 

 F.L.S., to the General Secretary, eutitled "A Note on Botany in 

 Malta," was read by Dr. A. B. Eendle, F.R.S., Sec.L.S. It began 

 with remarks on the prevalence of Oxalis ceniua, Thunb., in Malta, 

 still as nniversal as it was more than twenty-live years ago, when 

 Prof. George Henslow wrote about it (Proc. Linn. Soc. 1890-92, 

 pp. 31-36), whicli is still quoted as the most recent contribution 

 to its study. Seasons at Malta are numerous, uncertain, and 

 erratic, but the Cape Sorrel seems most prevalent in March and 

 April ; it is now called " The English A\^eed.'"' The writer then 

 gave his explanation of the abundance of the plant, ascribed to 

 its freely seeding ; but Henslow distinctly stated that the plant 

 was trimorphic at the Cape, while only the short-styled form was 

 present in Malta, and no perfect seed was formed, but bulbils 

 are abundant. 



Dr. McWalter next suggested the cultivation of certain 

 medicinal plants, of which the present supply is short, but well- 

 adapted, in his view, for growth in Malta. " Labour is, as a rule, 

 cheap, and though an era of prosperity now prevails on account of 

 the war, it is thought that great distress will prevail afterwards 

 unless useful work be provided for the people." 



Additional remarks were contributed by Dr. Eendle, Mr. Elwes, 

 and the President, who thought that the author should communi- 

 cate his suggestions about the culture of medicinal plants to the 

 Colonial Office. 



March loth, 1917. 



Sir David Prain, C.M.G., P.E.S., President, in the Chair. 



The Minutes of the General Meeting of the 1st March, 1917, 

 were read and confirmed. 



Mr. Heniy Pelix Northcote was admitted a Pellow. 



Mr. C. E. Jo^'Es, B.Sc, E.L.S., contributed a communication 

 on '* Methods of preparing Plants for Exhibition," which was 

 illustrated by a large number of dried plants mounted on sheets 

 and a few specimens preserved in a solution of formalin. 



Treatment of Green Parts of Plants, notably Floiueriny Plants. — 

 The process of treating them with a solution of copper acetate 

 dissolved in strong acetic acid was proposed by Prof. Trail, and 

 his directions for using a hot solution — now recognised as 

 generally the best method — are described in the ' Ivew Bulletin,' 

 1908 (p, 50). The object of the process is to form " permanent 

 green compounds of chlorophyll and copper." The purer the 

 chlorophyll, the quicker and better is the green colour obtained, 

 therefore the fresher the plant the more successful the treatment ; 

 plants in spring, when the leaves are young and active, give better 

 results than in autumn ; deciduous-leaved plants as a rule green 



