749 



of Lastraea Filix-mas, not so common as many other ferns hereabouts, 

 but when on the point of gathering it, to our surprise it proved to be 

 the barren frond of Osmuuda regalis. In the same boggy ground we 

 noticed Pedicularis palustris, Viola palustris, &c. Now, of course, 

 the existence of the Osmunda here will depend upon the piece of 

 boggy ground being drained or not. Should it be neglected, as is not 

 improbable, there being abundance of ground, the Osmunda and other 

 bog-plants may remain for half a century, surrounded by cabbages, 

 kidney -beans and onions. I should say that the fronds of Osmunda 

 were all barren. — Edwin Lees ; llfracomhe, September 12, 1843. 



A.RT. CLXXII. — Proceedings of Societies. 



BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE. 



Cork, Thursday, August 17, 1843. Section B. — Chemistry and Mineralogy. ' On tlie 

 Influence of Light on the Growth of Plants,' by Mr. E. Hunt. — The peculiar influ- 

 ence exerted upon the germination of seeds and the growth of the young plants by co- 

 loured light, has been for some years the subject of the author's investigations. The 

 results show the surprising powers exerted by the more luminous rays in preventing 

 germination, and in destroying the healthful vigour of the young plant. Plants, when 

 made to grow under the influence of the red rays, bend from the light as something 

 to be avoided ; while the blue or chemical rays are efiicaceous in quickening the growth 

 of plants. Since the publication of the last Report, the author has tried plants of a 

 great variety of kinds, and the same efi'ects have been produced. It has, however, been 

 found, that although blue light accelerates germination, and gives a healthful vigour 

 to the young plant, its stimulating influences are too great to ensure a perfect growth. 

 The strength of the plant appears to be expended in the production of a beautiful deep 

 green foliage ; and it is only by checking this tendency, by the substitution of a yel- 

 low for a blue light, that the plant can be brought into its flowering and seeding state. 

 The etiolating influence of the green rays was observed upon, as well as the power 

 which plants possessed of sending out shoots of a great length in search of that light 

 which is essential to their vigour. 



Section D. — Zoology and Botany. Dr. Lankester read a paper from Mr. Robert 

 Milliken, on a supposed anomaly in the fructification of the violet. 



Mr. Babinglon said that the author of the paper had described the appearances 

 correctly, but had come to a wrong conclusion. The fact was, that in Viola some 

 flowers were later than others in appearing, and that the later ones were generally 

 imperfect, not having any corolla. The later flowers appearing without petals had 

 misled Mr. Milliken to the supposition that these produced their fruit as the result of 

 the flowering of the first flowers. Prof. E. Forbes stated that the absence of petals 

 was a permanent state of some of the species of violet. 



Mr. Mackay exhibited specimens of the Irish Saxifrages. He called attention to 

 the species resembling the London Pride {Saxifraga umhrosa), and with the specimens 

 of the species he also exhibited several varieties of S. Geum, S. hirsuta, S. h. polita, 

 &c. Mr. Babington remarked that Saxifraga was a difiicult genus to study. Ther« 

 were many specimens on the table, which, if they came from diff'erent countries, would 



