MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 137 



a fine jilant of Goodia lotifolia, fur which a certificate was awarded. From 

 Messrs. Lucombe and Pince a new and handsome Leptospermum, from Swan 

 River, with pink flowers, which it produces very freely. A certificate was 

 awarded for it. From Mr. Graves, plants of Epidendrum inversum and Ouci- 

 oium fiexuosum, a beautiful species, producing a large drooping panicle of 

 brig-lit yellow flowers. For this also a certificate was awarded. From Mr. 

 Beck three well-grown Calceolarias, in his newly-invented slate-boxes : the 

 luxuriant growth of these plants was sufficient proof that this kind of material 

 suits them as well as the porous burnt pots in general use. From Mr. Veitch a 

 collection of plants ; those most worthy of notice were — the rare Oueidium ra- 

 mosum, and cut floaers of a greenhouse plant called Stigmatophyllon aristatum. 

 From Mr. J. A. Henderson, an excellent collection of Cinerarias, chiefly seed- 

 lings ; the colours of some were extremely brilliant, and entirely different from 

 those generally known. A certificate was awarded for them. From Mr. Ivery 

 were also a collection of Cinerarias, and a finely spotted variety of Mimulus. 

 From Mr. Henderson, gardener to Sir G. Beaumont, Bart., some seedling Pelar- 

 goniums. From Messrs. Lane and Sons, an excellent collection of forced Roses, 

 amongst which we particularly noticed the following: — Bourbons: Theresita, 

 Bouquet de Flore, Coquette de Montmorency, Clementine Duval, De Neuilly, 

 Emilie Courtier, Armosa, Cerise ; Teas : Theoboldine, Niphites (yellow), Moyra, 

 Ful^orie, fine dark red ; Perpetuate : Calliope, William Jesse, Madame Laflay ; 

 Chinas: Trionphante, Capitaine Parry, Paris, Belle de St. Cyr, and Marjolin. 

 With these was a pretty box of Heartsease, containing some excellent flowers. 

 For the Roses a certificate was awarded. From Mr. Henchman there was also 

 a collection of Heartsease. From Mr. Alexander Scott, gardener to Sir G. 

 Staunton, a fine cluster of the fruit of Musa Cavendishi, weighing upwards of 

 40 lbs. ; for this a Bauksian medal was awarded. From Mr. C. M'Gregor, 

 gardener ta H. Villebois, Esq., a handsome Melon, weighing 1 lb. 15 oz. From 

 Lord Beeihaven were some fine Shaddocks and Oranges. From the garden of 

 the Society a large collection of Orchidaceous and other plants; amongst them 

 were an exceedingly pretty new species of Barkeria, from Guatemala, with 

 delicate lilac and purple flowers, called by the Spanish Americans Flor d'Isabel, 

 and used by the Guatemalese to decorate their altars and temples; a fine spe- 

 cimen of Oncidium luridum guttatum ; Odontoglossum laeve, a new but not 

 particularly handsome species; Bossiaea disticha, and Iudigofera sylvatica, two 

 very good greenhouse plants, and a pretty collection of Cinerarias. 



May 5. — Mr. Solly's second lecture was delivered to-day. On this occasion 

 he entered into a consideration of the composition of vegetable matter, and stated 

 that it consists almost wholly of the four elements, Oxygen, Hydrogen, Carbon, 

 and Nitrogen. These were successively considered, together with their pro- 

 perties and the compounds they form. Oxygen was shown to be a most im- 

 portant part of the air we breathe, and to be the element by means of which 

 objects are enabled to burn. Carbon, which exists in so many different forms, 

 comprising the diamond on tire one hand and charcoal on the other, was the 

 next subject of examination. Its preparation by charring wood, and its strong 

 affinity for oxygen, were pointed out, but it was shown that it cannot combine 

 with oxygen till it is heated ; it then forms carbonic acid gas, the great material 

 upon which plants depend for their food. It is found experimentally that car- 

 bonic acid is formed when vegetable matter is burnt in a close vessel ; hence 

 oxygen and carbon must have been present in the vegetable matter. Hydrogen 

 is a gas forming one of the constituents of water, oxygen being the other. 

 Experiments were adduced in proof of this. Water was formed and decomposed. 

 It was shown that, when dry vegetable matter is burnt, water is formed ; there- 

 fore, hydrogen and oxygen must be present in the vegetable matter. The subject 

 of Vitrogen was deferred till the next lecture. Nothing could be better than the 

 manner in which these matters were treated. The experiments in illustration 

 were well selected, and conducted with great skill ; and the increasing number 

 of visitors shows the deep interest they take in the lectuies. 



Ni w Tuoi'.koi.um. — Having observed in one of the late numbers of the 

 ',.,/ ./. /,. , .' Ckronioh a notice of a new Tropa;oluin, which is stated to have been 

 Vol. X. No. 112. n 



