Minutes of Meetings. 45 



latter suggesting that the influence of trap and basaltic rocks in deflect- 

 ing the needle, might be caused by the existence of iron in these 

 rocks. 



Through the kindness of Mr, Clark, Curator of the Botanic Garden, 

 a specimen of E ncephalartus horridus, or Zamia horrkla, bearing a 

 magnificent amentum or cone, was exhibited to the Society, and de- 

 scribed by Mr. Keddie. The plant is a native of South Africa, whence 

 it was sent to the garden, twenty years ago, by Baron Ludwig, according 

 to whose computation of its age at that time, it must now be 250 years 

 old. It belongs to the natural order Cycadacete, holding an intermediate 

 place betwixt the tree-ferns and the palms, and having a marked affinity 

 to the Coniferce or pine tribe. Different species of the genus Encephalartos 

 yield a starchy substance which the Cafires bake into bread. The plant 

 is dioecious, and the amentum of the specimen exhibited was supposed, 

 at this immature stage, to be the male, consisting of anther-bearing scales. 

 (It ultimately proved to be the female, producing seemingly perfect seeds. 

 See Proceedings, Nov. 18, 1857.) This is the first time the plant has 

 flowered in Glasgow. The flowering of this interesting plant is not the 

 only indication of the skilful and successful management of the garden 

 by Mr. Clark. The Victoria Regia, the great water lily, which has this 

 year failed almost everywhere else, has been in flower in the Glasgow 

 garden since the 19th of July. The improvements which have been 

 introduced by the Curator into the greenhouses have already added 

 much to the value and interest of the collection. With improved heating 

 appai'atus, a new orchid-house to be erected by private Uberality, and a 

 marine aquarium in prospect, nothing will be awanting to complete the 

 equipment of the garden, except a new palm-house, which the wealthy 

 merchants of Glasgow will perhaps be disposed to add as a gift to the 

 institution, when they see the directors, with their meagre and inade- 

 quate income, striving to render the garden worthy of the second com- 

 mercial city of the empire. 



Dr. Allen Thomson, as one of the directors, compUmented Mr. Clark 

 on his able and successful management of the garden. 



Dr. Allen Thomson exhibited and described a vai'iety of interesting 

 objects in natural history. 



The scrutineers having given in their Report, the following was 

 declared the list of Office-bearers for the present Session, the names of 

 the Councillors, conformably to the rule of election, being arranged 

 in accordance with the number of votes recorded for each, the four 

 members of Council at the top of the list being those who retire next 



