28 
spathe. The odour of the ope is not agreeable. The plant was 
discovered in nee aes eemann in 1868, who sent tubers 
of it to Mr. W. Bull, of Sas where it flowered in nee ee 
1872, and a figure of it, under the name of Godwinia gigas, W 
published in the Botanical Magazine, t. 6048, where the Ealcwine 
particulars are give 
“In its native state the tuberous root of Godwinia attains a 
circumference of 2 feet 2 inches, and a weight of 90-92 ozs. The 
petiole reaches 10 feet in height, and has a metallic lustre and 
mottled surface resembling a snake standing erect, and bears a blade, 
3 feet 8 inches long. The peduncle is a than the petiole, 
about 5 feet and a half, and the spathe alone is 2 feet long. The 
re grows with great rapidity, and emits a peculiar odour. Dr. 
eemann named this prodigy after Mr. George Godwin, F.R.S., 
the eminent architect, a gentleman of varied attainments, in especial 
recognition of his philanthropic efforts to spread a love of window- 
gardening and other pursuits amongst the humbler classes of 
London.” The ee plant was obtained from Mr. Bull. It 
flowered at Kew in 1889 and again several times since. There 
is a good figure of this plant in the Gardeners’ Chronicle for 
Jan. 18, 1873. 
Miss. Ves 
Museums.— During the year 1969 much time has necessarily been 
devoted to dealing with the large number of age a. 
from the recent exhibitions held in London. Thi 
repairs 
‘An exhibit similar to that forwarded to the Forestry section of 
the Bath and West and Southern Counties Show, held the previous 
year at Dorchester, was prepared for the annual show at Exeter in 
1909, and a series of specimens was also forwarded to the Board of 
Agriculture and Fisheries for their exhibit at the “ Imperial Inter- 
national Exhibition,” held at Shepherds Bush. 
During the year under review 145 contributors have presented a 
large nuinber of miscellaneous products to the Museum, the pulk of 
which have already been dealt with. Of these donations special 
mention must be made of the bust in bronze of Charles Darwin, 
presented by the Bentham Trustees (K.B. 1909, p. 315), and a fine 
series of Javanese _ presented by the Director, Depart- 
ment of Agriculture, Buitenz 
In connection with the Varteiry section of the Museum, for which 
material is being gradually collected, many specimens have been 
received, consisting for the most part of unseasoned timber, which 
will not be available for exhibition for some time, 
- Fully labelled duplicates, to the number of 1,731, have been 
distributed during the year to 85 recipients, including the por te: 
Naval College, Osborne; Botany School, Cambridge; Museum 
