XX PROCEEDINGS. 



Two Howering spikes of Gynerium argentcum, were furnished 

 by R. Huttoii, Esq., F.H.S., of Putney Park, where this noble 

 plant has flowered magnificently. It forms a large tussock of 

 long glaucous, hard-skinned, drooping, serrated leaves, from 

 among which spring tall flower-spikes, surmounted by great loose 

 silvery panicles of inflorescence, which are exceedingly orna- 

 mental. The only thing to be regretted in connection with this 

 fine plant is the difficulty of increasing it ; for what offsets can 

 be got from it are so hard that they refuse to strike root in the 

 ordinary way ; and, on the other hand, our summers are too short 

 and sunless for it to ripen seeds. Such being the case, nothing 

 can be done in the way of distributing it till ripe seeds shall have 

 been obtained from the country where it grows wild, and therefore 

 the Society has taken steps to import a quantity. It may be men- 

 tioned, however, that persons in correspondence with Buenos Ayres 

 may easily secure seeds for themselves from there, where it is well 

 known under the name of the Pampas Grass. It is perfectly 

 hardy, and will grow almost anywhere, a plant of it in the 

 Society's garden having been flooded with water nearly the whole 

 of last winter, without apparently sustaining the slightest injury. 



IV.— ARTICLES FROM THE SOCIETY'S GARDEN. 



Strelitzia Fteginse, Begonia fuchsioides, Gesnera Herbert!, which 

 did not appear to be different from G. zebrina ; two Cape Heaths, 

 Maxillaria picta, Cuphea platycentra, Achimenes cocciuea, the 

 yellow early-flowering Chrysanthemum Hendersoni, and another 

 very dwarf Pompone, received without a name, from M. Van 

 Houtte, of Ghent. 



Among fruits were examples of Beurre Die), Figue de Naples, 

 Brown Beurre, and Pomme Poire Pears. 



Vegetables consisted of Chou de Milan des Vertus, and Chou 

 de Milan tres hatif frise de Wiirsing, both excellent Savoys, the 

 latter very large, the other medium sized ; and of Celery, Cole's 

 superb Crystal White, a good variety ; Celeri Gros Violet de 

 Tours, and Sutton's superb Pink, both apparently the same thing; 

 at least, no person could tell the difference between Sutton's and 

 the other, which is an excellent red Celery the Society has been 

 in the habit of distributing for many years. 



v.— BOOKS PRESENTED. 



Transactions of the Royal Society for 1851 and 1852, and Proceedings of ditto, Vol. VI., 

 No. 91 to No. !)8 inclusive, from the Society. 



