285 



seedlings, four inches apart every way. They grew vigorously, and I 

 believe all, but certainly nearly all, flowered the following season, and 

 with what result think you ? Why, every individual of them was a 

 mere cowslip, in all respects like its parent, not one of the sixty indivi- 

 duals having sported either in form or colour. 



After this decided result the plants were neglected and trodden 

 upon, but some flowered again the second year without any change. 



Would not this experiment, which can be attested by others as well 

 as myself, lead to the conclusion, that there must have been a "hitch" 

 somewhere in the recorded experiments of Professor Henslow and Mr. 

 Watson ? I do not pretend to suggest where. 



A year or two after the above experiment, I sowed in like man- 

 ner, a few seeds of the oxlip, with a similar result. 



W. Marshall. 



Ely, August 5, 1845. 



Proceedings of Societies. 



BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH. 



Thursday, May Sth, 1845. — Dr. Seller, V. P., in the chair. 



A collection of British specimens was announced from the London 

 Botanical Society ; and fresh specimens of a Primula, regarded as 

 the P. elatior of Jacquin, from Dr. Dewar, Dunfermline, were placed 

 on the table. 



The following papers were read — 



1. 'On some species of Cuscuta.' By Charles C. Babington, M.A., 

 F.L.S., &c., Cambridge. 



2. ' On the genus Diodium, Breb: By John Ralfs, M.R.C.S., &c., 

 Penzance. 



Thursday, June I2th, 1845. — Dr. Douglas Maclagan, President, 

 in the chair. 



The Secretary read a letter from Professor Graham, pointing out an 

 error in the minutes relative to the donation of South American plants 

 presented at the April meeting, (Phytol, ii. 191), and moved that the 

 notice of said donation should be corrected as follows : — "A commu- 

 nication was read from Professor Graham, intimating a donation by 

 Captain P. King, R.N,, of South American plants collected during the 

 voyages of H.M.S. Beagle, and which he had directed Mr. Brown, of 

 London, to present, in his name, to the University Herbarium. The 



