May 1891.] BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH. 101 



from Japan in 1822 ; but for the finer foliaged varieties we 

 are indebted to Messrs Veitch of Chelsea, who have intro- 

 duced them to commerce within the past quarter of a 

 century. 



Professor Bayley Balfoue exhibited living specimens of 

 Matthiola sinuata, Viola sp., Dipsacus ferox, Statice Limonium, 

 Beta maritima, Crithmum viaritimum, and Juncus acutus, 

 collected by him on the Braunton Burrows in North Devon 

 during a visit to that district in April ; also painted models 

 to illustrate the modes of branching of plants. 



Mr Sandeesois^ exhibited fine blooms of Masdevallia Wag- 

 nerii, M. Houttiana, M. chimera, Cypripedium caudatum, and 

 var. roseum, Odontoglossum vexillarium, 0. (Erstedii, Tricopilia 

 coccinea, Burlingtonia Candida, and DendroMum superhum. 



Specimens of Richardia a^thiopica with a double spathe 

 were exhibited from James Dewak, Esq. of Lassodie. 



Mr Geieve exhibited specimens in flower of Aticula japon- 

 ica salicifolia, and Rliododendron glaucum x B. ciliatum. 



The Curator exhibited in flower from the Eoyal Botanic 

 Garden, Ranunculus cortuscefolius, Menzesia e/mpeiriformis 

 Pinguicula caudata, Saxifraga Cotyledon, 8. Macnahiana, 

 Rhododendron Balhousim x R. Gihsoni, R. Nuttcdii, Prhnula 

 Reidi. 



The following papers were read : — 



The Weekly Kate of Gieth-Inceease in Ceetain Trees, 



AND its EeLATION TO THE GeOWTH OF THE LEAVES AND 



Twigs. By David Cheistison, M.D., V.P. Bot. Soc. Ed. 



In the years 1888, 1889, and 1890 I carried out a series of 

 observations on young trees in the Royal Botanic Garden and 

 Arboretum of Edinburgh, with the view of ascertaining — 



1. The precise time when girth-increase begins and ends. 



