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being, without an exception, perforated with insects. The kinds which 

 grew were from four to five weeks later of vegetating than those brought 

 home in soil. Acorns brought home in a box of Sphagnum moss, after 

 the superfluous moisture had been wrung from it, wei'e equally suc- 

 cessful with those in soil. Owing to the success of the above expe- 

 riment, Mr. M'Nab, some years ago, recommended to the Highland 

 and Agricultural Society, through the late Dr. Neill, to encourage, by 

 means of premiums or otherwise, the transmission of seeds in soil. 

 This was accordingly done ; but nothing has resulted from it, notwith- 

 standing that the notice still exists in their premium-list. During the 

 summer of 1851 Mr. M'Nab induced his brother, Dr. M'Nab, of King- 

 ston, Jamaica, to send a box of West-Indian fruits and seeds, to be 

 put up as described, and which he despatched during the month of 

 August, containing seeds of the following : — Granadilla, gourds, for- 

 bidden fruit, shaddocks, sweet sop, sour sop, Cherimoyer, Sapota, 

 guava, Lignum-vitae, papaw, alligator pear, mango, ochra, fustic, &c. 

 The box reached Edinburgh last October. Shortly afterwards the 

 seeds and soil were sown over the surface of boxes prepared with 

 drainage and soil for the purpose. During the month of January the 

 surface of the boxes became covered with innumerable specimens of 

 Cucurbitaceous and other herbaceous plants. When about three 

 inches high they were removed ; and again the surface became co- 

 vered with ochra, papaw-trees, &c. ; and now the different species of 

 Anona, Citrus, Lignum-vitae, besides several of the stronger hard- 

 wooded sorts, are making their appearance. It would be very desir- 

 able, in all cases where seeds are transmitted in soil, to have small 

 portions of each named and sent in paper. Many of the seeds could 

 thus be picked from the soil and identified before sowing. This, how- 

 ever, is only applicable to the larger fruits and seeds ; while with the 

 smaller ones dried specimens would be the only way to identify them. 

 Two of the boxes were exhibited to the meeting ; and the luxuriant 

 growth of seedling plants which they contained bore unmistakeable 

 evidence of the success of the mode recommended by Mr. M'Nab. 



4. ' On a Variety of the Orchis mascula (O. speciosa. Host) found 

 in the county ofWicklow;' by Mr. D. Moore, ofGlasnevin. This 

 communication consisted of the following letters, from Mr. Moore, 

 relative to the Orchis speciosa, Host, which Mr. M'Nab read to the 

 meeting : — 



*' May 27, 1852. — I have just been looking over a proof figure of 

 Orchis speciosa. Host, for English Bot. Sup. It was discovered by 

 lue and another person, last year, in the Co. Wicklow, where I went 



