Dec. 1890.] BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH. 25 



After dinner we left Dublin with the same steamer in which 

 we went, viz., " Duke of Leiuster." We occupied again the 

 State berths. The passage home was very enjoyable, and we 

 reached Greenock in time for the 9 a.m. train for Edinburgh, 

 where we arrived at 11 a.m., all highly delighted with our 

 first trip to the Emerald Isle. 



Professor Bayley Balfouk remarked that the form of corolla 

 of the curious Erica referred to by Dr Craig inclined him to 

 look for some relationship with Erica meditcrranca. 



Dr Craig pointed out that the station for Erica nuditerranea 

 was quite 5 miles away from the spot where the Ei^ica was 

 gathered. 



Dr Macfarlane considered, as the result of his examina- 

 tion of specimens, that the form of Erica found was no hybrid, 

 but only a form, like E. Machayi, of E. Tctralix. He 

 promised to lay a fuller statement of his views before the 

 Society after he had more carefully examined specimens. 



The Effects of Cultivation on Allium vineale, Linn. 

 By John H. Wilsoin, D.Sc, Curator of the Herbarium and 

 Library, Eoyal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. 



One of the most notable features in the flora of the 

 neighbourhood of St Andrews is the occurrence of Alliutii 

 vineale on the top of the old Abbey wall, and nowhere else. 

 The wall is a fine substantial piece of masonry enclosing the 

 Abbey grounds. It is 18 to 20 feet high and 3J feet 

 broad. At intervals there are round or quadrangular 

 turrets of varying dimensions. The top throughout its 

 whole length is to some extent demolished, and in most 

 places is covered with sandy debris which affords holding for 

 grass, stonecrop, dandelions, and a few other flowering plants. 

 Allium vineale is found along the greater part of the wall, in 

 some places occurring in considerable quantity, the globose 

 heads borne on the delicate stalks giving in summer a 

 characteristic outline to the ruin. The wall where it is 

 highest skirts the harbour. The top is there rather bare, and 

 the soil is composed of a very fibrous, compact turf, filled 

 with sand and lime. In summer it is very hot and dry. 



