43 



the origin of the so-called tidal wave which caused so much destruction 

 on the west coast of South America on the 13th August, 1868, and 

 the effects of which were felt on these coasts on the 15th of the same 

 month. 



The following letter from Mr. A. Johnson, Gould's country was read : — 



"September 12th, 1872. 



** Sir, — I do not know if you will think the following particulars 

 worthy of being brought under the notice of the Society. Four years 

 ago I brought from Scotland a white kind of potato called "Patterson's 

 Victoria " a seedling then, as now, in great repute as prolific and of first- 

 rate quality. I have grown these potatoes here for the last three 

 years, but last year I noticed that the blossom had changed from white 

 to a pale blue, but there was no difference discernible in the potatoes. 

 This year, however, upon lifting them, they had pink eyes, not unlike 

 a very white Californian potato, and their general shape appeared to 

 have altered from round to a flattish kind of oval. 



"My own opinion is that they are probably a hybrid, and that they 

 are returning to the kind from which the blossoms had been inoculated. 



* ' I may add that I have grown these potatoes each year on new 

 ground. 



"I am, &c., &c., 



"A. Johnston. 

 " The hon. secretary Koyal Society." 



The Chairman stated that the flowers of the Hydrangea, grown in 

 the part of the colony referred to, invariably turned blue, probably from 

 the presence of iron in the soil, and it might be that the blossom of 

 the potato was changed to blue by the same cause. 



Dr. Agnew remarked this would not account for the change in the 

 shape of the potato. This rather favoured the idea that the plant 

 might be reverting to an original type. He would be glad to know if 

 the common white Epacris, or other white flowers, existed in the 

 district. If so, the circumstance would be unfavourable to the theory 

 as to the effect of iron on the blossom. 



Mr. GiBLiN observed it was well known that the colour of the blossoms 

 of the Hydrangea could be changed to blue by adding a small quantity 

 of an iron solution to the water supplied to the plant. This experi- 

 ment had frequently been tried, with success. 



A second letter from Mr. Johnston was read, being a very favour- 

 able report of the sugar beet from seed supplied from the Society's 

 Gardens. 



On the same subject, Mr. Barnard read the following extract from 

 a letter from a settler on the Leven : — " The sugar beet is a complete 

 euccess, notwithstanding the unfavourable season for other crops, and 

 most useful in fattening pigs and all kinds of stock. Some sixteen 

 pigs that we have killed were entirely fed with the beet, and, although 

 running about, were quite fat. The poultry, too, were very fond of 

 it. My son purposes growing a large quantity next year." Mr. Bar- 

 nard proceeded to remark that seed, he behoved, had been distributed 

 by the Royal Society to about one hundred persons, upon the simple 

 condition that they would report to the Society the degree of success 

 which had attended the experiment. But as only one or two reports 

 had been received, he thought a circular should be addressed to those 

 who had been supplied with the seed, asking for a statement of results ; 

 as he felt convinced that, were the great advantages of this crop more 

 fully known, its cultivation would become the rule, instead of as now 

 the exception. It was useless to expect the manufacture of sugar 

 from beet until the root became generally grown ; it was putting the cart 

 before the horse. As soon, however, as the exception became the 



