204 Botanical Society of Edinburgh. 



roots had penetrated the drains in different localities, were : — elm, 

 poplar, willow and ash. Polygonum Bistorta, Equisetum, and Tussilago 

 Farfara. The Bistort had been very troublesome in the Carse of 

 Gowrie. Mr. Gorrie had found the roots of an alder penetrating 

 into an old mine full of water, and developed there in a remarkable 

 manner. 



Dr. Neill stated that twenty years ago Mr. Riddoch of Falkirk 

 had transmitted to him a specimen of the root of Senecio Jacobcea 

 that had entered a drain by a very small orifice, but afterwards ex- 

 tended itself, completely filling the drain for about 20 feet. 



Mr. Wyville Thomson referred to an instance which had come 

 under his observation in Ayrshire, in which drains were completely 

 obstructed at a place where they passed through a larch plantation, 

 the roots of the larches having filled them up. 



Sir John S. Forbes, in a letter addressed to Professor Balfour, gave 

 some interesting particulars as to the water-pipes which supply the 

 village of New Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire. Part of these tile-pipes, 3 

 inches bore, were laid about forty years ago, overlapping 2^ inches, 

 packed in clay throughout their whole length, and the joints filled 

 with milled clay. The pipes are in general placed 3 feet deep ; but 

 in some instances they approach nearer the surface owing to the 

 levels, and at these points roots have entered. The roots proceed 

 from plants outside and never adhere to the tile. They run along 

 the inside for 6 or 8 yards, and then become matted together so as 

 to fill the pipes completely. The plants which have been observed 

 to send their roots into the pipes are species of Rumex and Carduus, 

 &c. The pipes require to be cleaned at least once in the season, 

 which is done by a long wire with a screw at the end, which is 

 twisted among the roots so as to break them up, and allow the 

 loosened matter to pass out at the lowest level. Sir John sent a 

 specimen of the root of a gooseberry bush which had entered the 

 pipes where they passed through a garden. 



Dr. Fleming suggested the importance of ascertaining the probable 

 structural changes which enabled the roots of these plants to derive 

 nourishment directly from running water. 



Dr. Balfour exhibited specimens of a peculiarly knotted stem of 

 an elm from Prestonhall. The leading stem had been broken oflf, and 

 one of the side branches rising from a remarkably knotted base had 

 become erect, giving the tree a peculiar aspect. AH the branches of 

 this new leader were covered with knots, while the other branches 

 were free from them. The peculiarity was continued in plants raised 

 from slips taken off the branch. 



Dr. Balfour also noticed the occurrence in Prestonhall grounds of 

 a mountain ash, from which a large limb had been broken, splitting 

 the tree so as to expose its centre, which is now covered with roots, 

 sent down from the branches above. 



Dr. Balfour exhibited specimens of sycamore roots, taken by Mr. 

 Gorrie from very stony ground, which had become flattened and hol- 

 lowed so as to embrace large stones at different points. The roots, 

 when removed, carried the stones with them, and in some instances 



