313 



Miss Barnard, of Odsey, near Royston, and Mr. J. L. Lawrence, of 

 Haverstock Hill, Hamp stead, were elected members. 



Mr. Hewett Watson presented some beautiful specimens of Simethis 

 bicolor, from Mr. Borrer, collected at Poole Heath, Dorsetshire. 



Dr. John Parkin read a paper "On the Potato Disease." The 

 writer commenced by stating that, although it was too late to adopt 

 the measures recommended by him in his work ' On the Prevention 

 and Treatment of the Potato Disease,' there was yet time for the 

 adoption of those which he had advised for arresting its progress after 

 it had commenced either in the haulm or the root. 



These measures, in addition to the employment of chalk and sul- 

 phuric acid, and the burning of stubble, which Dr. P. recommends in 

 all cases when these agents can be easily obtained and the crop is 

 small, consist either in cutting off the haulm, pulling up the stem, or 

 raising the roots with a fork, according as the disease exists in the one 

 or the other of these parts of the plant. 



It was stated by Dr. P. that sometimes the disease commences in 

 the haulm, sometimes in the root, the root proper, but more generally 

 in the underground stem. The modus operandi of these measures 

 was explained by Dr. P., and this part of the subject has been fully 

 treated in his work. Dr. P. further advised that the tubers should be 

 left in the ground until required for use, as no doubt, he said, could 

 exist that exposure to the air hastened the process of decay after it 

 had attacked the tubers. The writer concluded by stating it to be 

 his intention to favour the Society on a future occasion with additional 

 evidence which he had obtained, not only with respect to the efficacy 

 of these measures, but of those also which he has recommended for 

 the prevention of the disease, and which of course are of the most im- 

 portance. — G. E. D. 



Some Account of the several alleged Species included under the 

 name of Filago germanica of Linnaeus. By Hewett C. 

 Watson, Esq. 



For some years past various botanists have entertained the idea 

 that more than one single species are included among the plants«to 

 which the name of Filago germanica is currently applied. Two 

 years ago, the Rev. G. E. Smith communicated specimens of his Fi- 

 lago apiculata to the Botanical Society of London, along with a diag- 



