899 



Mr. Andrews observed that this was a species of scale insect {Aspi- 

 diotus). The species were peculiar to many plants. 



The ballot was then proceeded with ; and the following gentlemen 

 were declared to be elected members : — Robert Barklie, Esq., 106, 

 Lower Gardiner Street ; F. Nuttall, Esq., Tittour, Co. Wicklow ; — 

 Brown, Esq., Mount Merrion ; and Mr. Wakeman, Grafton Street. 



The meeting adjourned to the month of March. 



Botanical Society of Edinburgh. 



TJiursday, February 10, 1853. — Professor Balfour, President, in 

 the chair. 



Various donations to the Society's library and herbarium were 

 announced, among which were the following : — Leaf taken from a 

 lime-tree which had been planted by Linnaeus, in his own garden at 

 Upsal. The tree was pointed out to Mr. Elliot (by whom it was pre- 

 sented) by the only surviving daughter of Linnaeus. — Two specimens 

 of larch, showing the absence of the tap-root, and the formation of 

 lateral roots. The following particulars were given by Mr. Graham : — 

 The trees were cut in January last, on property 750 feet above the 

 sea-level. They show the mode in which the roots proceed from the 

 stem. These are preserved to show the fallacy of the theory that the 

 main tap-root is necessary for the upright growth of the stem, and 

 that the lateral roots produce only side branches. Each tree was split 

 into two portions, and planed : — 1. Height of tree when cut down, 34 

 feet 2 inches; girth, 18 inches from ground, 26 inches; apparent age 

 (calculated from number of rings), 27 years ; length of leading shoot 

 in the year 1851, 6 inches, — in 1852, ^^ inches. The earlier growth 

 of the tree must thus have been pretty rapid, as the average of the 

 annual shoots is 15 inches. 2. Height of tree when cut down, 7 feet 

 10 inches ; girth, 1 foot from ground, 7 inches ; apparent age, 7 or 8 

 years; length of leading shoot in the year 1851, 15|^ inches, — in 1852, 

 16 inches. Neither of the trees had any tap-root. The roots spread 

 out laterally from the base of the stem ; and yet there was no impe- 

 diment to the growth of the central axis. The specimens were pre- 

 sented by Humphrey Graham, Esq. 



Mr. John Laing, gardener to the Earl of Rosslyn, Dysart House, 

 exhibited a plant of Rhododendron ciliatum in flower. 



