98 REPORT—1862. 
3. That, by means of selection, we may produce roots that are well shaped and 
have the capabilities of yielding the best crop. 
4, That, by designedly selecting malformed or degenerate roots for seeding, we 
may produce a seed that will result in a great or greater degeneracy. 
The bearings of this subject are of interest, not only in a physiological poet of 
view, but in the more practical one concerned in every-day cultivation ; for upon 
a due observance of the principles involved will depend the stability or permanency 
of any particular sort; and as sorts are only arrived at as the result of great care 
(that is, by successful breeding), so care must be taken for their maintenance. 
Reply to the Remarks of M. F. Marcet on the Power of Selection ascribed to 
the Roots of Plants. By Dr. Dauseny, F.R.S. 
Dr. Daubeny replied to some remarks by M. F. Marcet, published in the ‘ Biblio- 
théque Universelle de Genéve,’ with respect to the power of selection exerted by 
the roots of plants, as mentioned in a paper read by him before the British Asso- 
ciation at the last Meeting held at Manchester.—See vol. xxx. p. 141. 
On a Botanical Chart of the Barony of Burren, County Clare. 
‘By F. J. Foor. 
This district is composed of the Upper Carboniferous Limestone, and is remark- 
able as being the habitat of many rare and interesting plants. Certain lines were 
laid down on the map, representing the limit of the ranges of these plants 
through the district. Among others, the author enumerated and commented briefly 
on the following :—Arabis hirsuta, Arenaria verna, Cerastium arvense, Geranium 
sanguneum, Rubus saxatilis, Rubia peregrina, Galium pusillum, Galium boreale, 
Asperula cynanchica, Melampyrum sylvaticum, Orchis pyramidals, var. fiore pleno, 
Thalictrum majus and minus, Helianthemum canum, Spirea filipentula, Dryas 
octopetala, Sedum rhodiola, Arbutus uva-ursi, Pyrola media, Gentiana verna, Oro- 
banche rubra, Epipactis ovalis (of Babington), Potentilla fruticosa, Adiantum capillus 
Veneris. 
The last-mentioned plant (the beautiful Maiden-hair Fern) occurs in great 
abundance in several separate stations in Burren. A few years ago it was only 
recorded as plentiful from the South Isles of Arran, and sparingly from Conne- 
mara and Cahirconree Mountain, county Kerry. 
On the Inflorescence of Plants. By Joun Gress. 
On the Toot-poison of New Zealand. By W. Lavprr Linpsay, M.D. and 
F.R.S. Edinb., F.LS., Se. 
During a tour through the New Zealand provinces in 1861-1862, the author 
was struck with the abundant evidences which everywhere presented themselves 
of the ravages produced among the flocks and herds of the settlers by the Toot- 
plant, one of the most common indigenous shrubs of these islands. In many cases 
of losses by individual settlers brought under his notice, the amount from this 
source alone had been from 25 to 75 per cent. In Otago particularly were such 
losses felt during the height of the gold mania there, from July to December 
1861 : the traffic between Dunedin and Tuapeka gold-fields required the service of 
large numbers of bullocks, a great proportion of which were lost by Toot-poisoning. 
In colonies which as yet, at least, haye depended for their prosperity almost solely 
on pastoral enterprise, such losses form a material barrier to prosperity; and the 
concurrent testimony of the colonists in every part of New Zealand proves the great 
desirability of determining the nature of the Toot-poison, the laws of its action on 
man and the lower animals, and its appropriate antidotes or modes of treatment. 
With a view to assist in the attainment of these aims, the author had made notes, 
on the spot, of a large number of instances of the poisonous or fatal action of the 
plant on man—adults as well as children—and the lower animals, and had brought 
specimens home for chemical examination, The chief results of his investigations 
may be thus stated :— 
