500 



got equally well from the young leaves of the Yucca gloriosa. It is 

 an excellent article for making artificial flowers, as it takes colours 

 freely." 



Mr. M'Nab exhibited specimens of the paper which he had pre- 

 pared from the upper surface of the youvg leaves of Yucca gloriosa 

 growing in the Botanic Garden, and he showed the method in which 

 it was prepared. 



A communication was read from Mr. William Keddie, of Glasgow, 

 in which he stated that he had found vast profusion of Batrachospermura 

 vagum in the pools and rivulets immediately under the upper part of 

 Goatfell, in Arran, about the place where the granite comes into con- 

 tact with the schistose rocks. The plant is not commonly found in 

 Scotland. Several specimens were presented to the herbarium. 



The following new members were elected : — Joseph Johnston, Esq.; 

 T. Roxburgh Polwhele, Esq. 



A Letter, addressed to Robert Brown^ Esq., P.L.S., containing Bota- 

 nical Memoranda of a Visit to France, in the Summer of 185 J. 

 By Joseph Woods, Esq., F.L.S., &c.* 



My Dear Mr. Brown, — You encouraged me to think that a few 

 botanical notes of a short tour in France might not be uninteresting 

 to the Linnean Society. You have exposed yourself to the danger 

 of receiving a very dull, gossiping letter; but I will do what I can. 



It is quite unnecessary to make any comments on the botany be- 

 tween London and Paris. The route by Rouen is in this respect, as 

 in most others, by far the most interesting. The Seine runs through 

 a wide valley, with a rather steep slope on both sides. Descending 

 ridges of hills start, sometimes on one side, sometimes on the other, 

 forcing the river into a very sinuous course ; and, as it approaches the 

 main slopes, it often cuts off the shorter spurs, and exhibits perpendi- 

 cular points of chalk. One of the places in which this structure of 

 the country is best seen is at the Little Andelys ; and there you have 

 beautiful scenery, the magnificent ruin of Chateau Gaillard, built by 

 our Richard the First, and a very varied botany. The nearly level 

 country at the top of the hills is clayey ; the slopes are chalk, and the 

 alluvium at the bottom, which accompanies the river, is sand, a variety 

 of soil affording a corresponding variety in its productions. The dis- 



* Read before the Liiiiieaii Soeitiv, Dcci'inbci 21, 1HC>1 - ]\Iarcli l(i, IS02. 



