384 Aslronomical Society. 



Secretary. — Mr. Samuel Brookes. — John Elliot, Esq. Vice- 

 President and Treasurer. — Alexander Henderson, M.D. 

 — Charles Holford, Esq. — Robert Henry Jenkinson, Esq. 

 — Mr. Joseph Kirke. — Alexander MacLeay, Esq. Vice- 

 President. — ^Ir. Hugh Ronalds. — Joseph Sabine, Esq. Se- 

 cretary. — Sir Claude Scott, Bart. — Alexander Seton, Esq, 

 — John Walker, Esq. Vice-President. 



At the meeting on the 6th of May a paper by the Chevalier 

 Joseph Parmentier was read. On the Pears cultivated in 

 France and the Netherlands, in which their qualities and 

 periods of maturity are pointed out. 



A short Note by Dr. ^^''allich of Calcutta was also read, 

 relative to the hardy Rice called Joomlah DJian, sent from 

 Napal to the East India Company, and presented by the Di- 

 rectors to the Horticultural Society. A considerable quaiitity 

 of the Rice was distributed to the members present. It is 

 represented as being perfectly hardy, and will probably be a 

 valuable acquisition to the occupiers of low swampy lands in 

 this country. 



A Paper by the President was read. On the Production 

 of Mule Plants, particularly of Strawberries obtained from 

 Seeds of the Scarlet and Hautboy impregnated mth the Pollen 

 of the Alpine; and a Cherry produced between the Morells 

 and the Common Cherry. 



At the meeting on 2dth of May a Paper by the President 

 was read: On an easy Means of raising Peas in Pots for trans- 

 planting for an early Crop in severe seasons, when the Autumn- 

 sown Crop is destroyed. 



A Paper by James Robert Gowen, Esq. was read, a New 

 Hybrid Amaryllis of great beauty, produced heiyf^en Amaryllis 

 vittata and Amaryllis regiiuv. 



A very interesting collection was exhibited of models in 

 wax, of the varieties of the fruits cultivated in Italy, executed 

 under the' direction of Signor Acerbi of Milan. 



A fine collection of Double and Parrot Tulips was shown, 

 from the garden of the Society. 



ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY. 



May 9th. — At the meeting this evening, an interesting 

 paper, On the Theory and Aj^plication of Compensation Pen- 

 dulums (particularly of the Mercurial Construction) to Astro- 

 nomical Clocks, by Francis Bailj', Esq. F.R.S. was read. 

 From its length it could not however be finished, and the re- 

 mainder of it is postponed till the next meeting of the So- 

 ciety. We shall therefore defer our account of its contents 

 until our next Number. geo- 



