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The scientific program of the afternoon consisted of an illus- 

 trated talk by Dr. Norma E. Pfeiffer on "Experiments in connec- 

 tion with Lily Breeding." The speaker's abstract follows : 



Lilies, which show a great diversity in their interactions, are often self- 

 incompatible and seldom give natural crosses in the field. Seed set with 

 foreign pollen often gives rise to seedlings showing maternal characteristics 

 only. But pollen tubes from foreign pollen have been observed to grow less 

 rapidly than own pollen tubes. 



Mechanical stimuli applied to the stigma of regal lilies in the absence of 

 pollen failed to induce seed setting, contrary to a popular idea. However, 

 the stimulus of pollen can be substituted for in capsule production by chemi- 

 cals, as shown by experiments on the Easter lily in 1937. Chemicals used 

 by different workers showed variable results in different species in inducing 

 formation of bulbs in the leaf axils. Naphthaleneacetic acid (Beale) gave 

 bulbs in a lingiflorum variety, but not in the Formosa lily, while colchicine 

 solutions (Emsweller) induced bulb formation in the Formosa lily, but not 

 in L. longiflortim ; the latter solution gives rise to polyploids. Formation of 

 aerial bulbs was induced accidentally by the speaker in L. longiflorum by 

 stoppage of growth of the main stem and through low temperatures. 



Kodachrome slides were shown to illustrate a number of lilies with their 

 hybrids. 



After the meeting adjourned at 4.30 p.m., tea was served 

 through the courtesy of the New York Botanical Garden. 



Respectfully submitted, 



Honor Hollinghurst 

 Recording Secretary 



Minutes of the Meeting of March 3, 1942 



The meeting was called to order by the First Vice-President, 

 Dr. J. A. Small, at 8.15 p.m. at the American Museum of Natural 

 History. Thirty-eight members and friends were present. 



The minutes of the preceding meeting were adopted as read. 



The scientific program of the evening consisted of an illustrated 

 talk by Prof. Ralph Stewart on "Collecting Plants in Kashmir." 

 The speaker's abstract follows : 



Kashmir is a very irregular bit of territory at the extreme north of India 

 where Afghanistan, Russia and Tibet come in contact with British India. 

 It is a native state, ruled by a Maharajah and extends roughly from 32 to 

 32 degrees north and 72 to 80 degrees east. It is all mountainous and very 

 rugged and except for the famous Vale of Kashmir is sparsely inhabited. 



There are many elements in the flora .because of the great altitudinal 

 range. Jumu is only 1,000 ft. above sea level and plants have been collected 



