37 
Towards the close of the last century, Thunberg published a work on the 
flora of Japan, and introduced to the world some of the wonderful species from 
that country. About 1823 Dr. Van Siebold, of Wurzberg, visited Japan in the 
capacity of physician to the Dutch Embassy, and up to his death, in 1866, never 
ceased to collect and to encourage the collection of these plants for introduction 
into Europe. 
In 1804, the now well-known Tiger Lily (LZ. Tigrinwm) was bronght from 
Japan by Captain Kirkpatrick. The attractiveness of its brilliant red flowers 
joined to the hardiness of the plant, which enables it to withstand the extreme 
cold of Canada, and to flourish in the moist climate of Britain equally well, has 
rendered it for many years past one of the best Known and most generally culti- 
vated of all lilies. 
It is only quite recently, however, that the most magnificent lilies of Japan 
have become generally known, the splendid Golden Lily (L. awratwm) having only 
come into general cultivation within the last ten or twelve years. Lilies are sup- 
posed to have been cultivated in Japan for centuries with as much care and 
attention as have been given to the production of tulips and hyacinths in 
Holland. 
It is somewhat singular, considering how much attention has been given 
of late years to the iatroduction and cultivation of lilies, that the origin of 
two of the most beautiful species in cultivation is unknown. 
The Nankeen Lily (L. Excelsum), a beautiful sweet-scented lily of the 
Martagon sub-genus, closely resembling in form and general appearance the well- 
known White Lily (L. Candidum), is one of them ; and Brown’s Lily (L. Brownii), 
a lily of the long:forum type, having the outside of the petals a deep chocolate 
colour, is the other. L. Mxcelsum (or Testacewm, as it is frequently called,) is un-' 
known in a wild state, and is supposed to be a hybrid between the common 
White Lily (ZL. Candidwm) and scarlet Turk’s-cap (L. Chaleedonicum. L. Brownii 
is believed to have been introduced from China or Japan, but nothing certain 
seems to be knowa either as to the place from whence it came or the person who 
first brought it into notice. 
* * ¥ + * * * 
On the same evening an instructive paper was read by Mr. J. Martin 
“On the study of Botany.” He described the different parts of plants, their 
functions in the economy of nature,.and the simplicity of the method of classi- 
fication that had been adopted by botanists ; and urged the claims of the science 
of botany on the younger members of the Club in an able and interesting 
manner. 
EIGHTH SOIREE. 
Fripay, 11th March, 1881: On this evening a lecture was delivered by 
_ Prof. J. Macoun, F.L.S., Botanist to the Canadian Government, on “The Capa- 
bilities of the Prairie Lands of the Great North-West, as shown by their Fauna 
and Flora.” The lecturer first explained the laws of geographical distribution, 
by which, for example, the geologist can state the horizon to which certain fossils 
must belong, and the botanist determine, by the inspection of plants from a 
pertain locality, the character of the soil and of the climate, and the consequent 
