clxiv Proceediwjs, 



of Whitley. The f?emig Epilabium is one of the most difficult, owiitg 

 to the readiness with which the species composing it hybridise. 



We are not aware of any additions to the records of Surrey plants 

 during the year. Mr. Beeby Writes : — " We cannot now expect many 

 new records for the county ; our work lies among the critical genera, and 

 in testing what are really varieties and what are merely states, &c." 



It may, however, be noted that Senecio viscosiis has appeai'ed in 

 considerable plenty thig year on the new roads on Park Hill. It is a 

 rare and local plant in tlie county, aiid, we believe, not previously 

 recorded from the neighbourhood of Croydon, 



At the Field Meeting to Caterham and Whitehill, on the 3rd August, 

 the botanists of the party found ample employment, the most □ote^' 

 woi-thy of their spoils being the curious saprophyte (or parasite on 

 decayed vegetable matter), Hypopithys ■midtifiora, found in plenty 

 under the beeches at the top of Whitehill. 



In our last Report we refeiTed to the occurrence of Phylloxera at 

 Kew, on the strength of a newspaper paragraph. Mr. R. McLachlan 

 informs us it was at the RoyaJ Horticultural Society's Gardens at 

 Chiswick that the pest appeared ; but it was, as we stated, promptly 

 got rid of by burning the plants and soil. 



At the recent Soiree the Collection of the Club was exhibited, and 

 made a good show. Amongst the other botanical exliibits may be 

 noted a fine series of rai-e Welsh plants by the Messrs. Salmon, of 

 Reigate, including Lloydia serotina, Helianthemum Brcweri, Cine- 

 raria spathuleBfolia, &c. Tins exhibit was noteworthy not only for 

 the intrinsic interest of the plants themselves, but also for the beauty 

 of the specimens, and the care bestowed in their mounting. 



Mr. Mennell exhibited specimens of orchises (0. jjyramidalis, 0. 

 conopsea, and 0. apifera) dried after being treated with sulphurous 

 acid, by which the colours are admirably preserved, and retain much 

 of the vividness and beauty of the living plant. The plants are im- 

 mersed in a solution of equal parts of sulphurous acid and methylated 

 spirit for about ten minutes before being dried in the usual way. 

 Another method recommended hy oi;r fellow-member, Mr. Packham, 

 is to dust the plant over with dry salicylic acid when putting it into the 

 press, and to renew the operation when first changing the papers ; he 

 states that he has fried this method with much success. It is desirable 

 that both methods should be fui-ther tried, and the results reported to 

 us.— Henry T. Menniill, Hon. Sec. 



Report of the Geological Sub-Committee, January, 1891. 



I regret that, owing to the little that has taken place during the past 

 year in the way of penetrating the surface of the ground, there is 

 little or nothing come to hand for me to record. 



The Excursion of Augiist 3rd was under the direction of this Sub- 

 Committee. Owing to the threatening nature of the weather, very 

 few members put in an appearance, eight being the number which 

 started from Caterham at the appointed time (11 for 10.30 a.m.) the 

 weather then being very fine. The route taken was across the Valley 

 to Whitehill. Wild flowers were in profusion, and many plants of 

 interest were gathered. Lepidoptera was also faily abundant ; among 

 others, Zygtenafilipendula: was common. Butterflies, however, were 



