124 Botanical Society of Edinburyh. 
a uniform: direction from left to right throughout their whole length. 
During the drying of the stems numerous fissures or rents are formed 
in a spiral manner from one-eighth to half an inch in width, about 
4 inches deep, and generally from 4 to 10 inches distant at the bottom, 
presenting a ragged edge and narrowing upwards, causing the bark 
to fall off in large flakes. When dead, they are hewn down, piled 
in heaps, and set fire to. The quantity of splendid timber annually 
consumed in this way was described as being very great; but owing 
to the distance from water communication it is rendered comparatively 
worthless. Many of the road-sides, through the wooded districts for 
miles together, were richly adorned with Lobelia cardinalis and si- 
philitica, and Monarda didyma. Sambucus canadensis also presented 
a striking feature, being very abundant and densely covered with 
fruit. The only tree not previously seen was the Tamarack or black 
American larch (Larix pendula). In an extensive forest on the 
banks of the Thames river near New London this tree was generally 
of straggling growth, and never exceeded three feet in circumference. 
Dr. Balfour read an account of a botanical trip to Ben Voirlich at 
the head of Loch Lomond, and Ben Nevis in August last. He gave 
description of the general features of the district, and noticed the 
occurrence of moraines and large angular boulders near the upper 
part of Loch Lomond, and smooth rounded. rocks, with distinct 
groovings, near the waterfall of Glen Nevis ; both being probably in- 
dicative of the former existence of glaciers. He also gave an account 
of the flora, and noticed the occurrence of Carex irrigua near Loch 
Sloy ; of Isoétes lacustris, Carex saxatilis, and Poa Balfourit, in large 
quantities.on Ben Voirlich; and of Lysimachia vulgaris, Carex vesi- 
caria, Rubus nitidus, suberectus, sylvaticus, Radula 6. foliosus, and 
humifusus, near Inverarnan.. After noticing the varieties of Quercus 
pedunculata and sessiliflora which occur in Glen Falloch, he proceeded 
to give a detailed account of the botany of Ben Nevis. Besides the 
usual alpine plants, he gathered Savifraga rivularis, Stellaria ceras- 
toides, Poa alpina vivipara, P.laxa, and montana, Cornus suecica; Cis- 
topteris dentata, Carex saxatilis, and various forms of Hieracium. 
Specimens of the plants were exhibited to the meeting. 
At this meeting the election of office-bearers for the ensuing year 
took place, when Professor Balfour was chosen President ; and Drs.. 
Greville, Seller, A. Inglis, and Douglas Maclagan, Vice-Presidents. - 
Jan. 8, 1846.—Professor Balfour, President, in the Chair. rh 
The Treasurer read a letter from Mrs. Graham, presenting to the 
Society some valuable botanical manuscripts by the late Professor 
Graham. 
The following acmaiiamiratioos were read :— 
1, “‘ Notice regarding some species of Plants recently observed a as 
natives of Britain,’ by Mr. Evans. Among the species referred to in 
this notice were Alsine stricta, Carduus arvensis, (3. setosus, Glyceria 
plicata, Barkhausia setosa, &c.; specimens of these, and of Silene 
ztalica, from two Scotch. stations, were exhibited to the meeting... © 
2. Dr. R. C. Alexander on the Flora of Sicily... Dr, Alexander.re- 
