11 PROCEEDINGS. 



increase the temperature, but merely to dry up the damp ; 

 the vines are allowed to have great ventilation, and from 

 this circumstance the grapes are well ripened, which is the 

 great secret of their keeping. 2. To Mr. R. Ayres, gar- 

 dener to C. L. Stephens, Esq., of Roehampton Grove, for 

 Cucumbers, especially a fine specimen of the White Spine. 

 3. To J. Moorman, Esq., of Portland Place, Clapham Road, 

 for a collection of Pears, among which were specimens of 

 Napoleon and Passe Colmar, in good condition. 



Novelties from the Society's Garden. Specimens of the 

 Winter Crassane Pear, an excellent variety raised by the 

 late Mr. Knight, not only resembling a Crassane in appear- 

 ance, but also in flavour. It is a most abundant bearer, and 

 so perfectly liardy that it does not at all require the help of 

 a wall to bring it to perfection. 



Books presented. 



Tlie Ladies' Flower Garden of Ornamental Perennials, Nos. 23 and 24. From Mrs. 



Ix>udon. 

 Proceedings of the American Pliilosophical Society, No. 26, vol. 2, and No. 27, vol. 3. 



From the Society at Philadelphia. 

 Proceedings of the Geological Society, Nos. 94, 95, and 96. From the Society. 

 The London Polyteclmic Magazine, No. 1. From the Editor. 

 Paxton's Magazine of Botany, for September, October, November, and December. 



From the E<litor. 

 Transactions of the Society of Arts, vol. 54. From the Society. 

 The .Toiirnal of the Royal .\siatic Society, No. 14. From the Society. 

 The Florist's Journal, No. 52. From the Editor. 



Harrison's Floricultiiral Cabinet, for December and January. From the Editor. 

 The Botanical Register for January. From the Publishers. 

 Part 2, vol. 4, of the Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society. From the Society. 



February 20, 1844. (Regent Street.) 



Election. H. Warre, Esq., of Croydon. 



Awards. Large Silver Medal to Mr. J. Brewster, gardener 

 to Mrs. Wray, of Cheltenham, for a plant of Laelia super- 

 biens, having a spike about 51 inches long, of large purple 

 blossoms. This plant, the honour of first flowering which 

 belongs to Mrs. Wray, and wliich has created much interest, 

 is a native of Guatemala, where it was first discovered by 

 Mr. Skinner — the finest specimens being in ravines, and 

 growing out of the fissures of rocks sheltered from north-west 

 winds. Some of the wild plants have pseudo-bulbs 22 inches 

 high, and flower-stems four yards long, bearing 22 flowers 

 each. Mr. Hartweg, who also met with it in abundance in 

 the neighbourhood of Chantla, where it is planted by the 

 Indians in front of their doors and exists in immense quan- 

 tities, states that the length of a stem, measuring four 



