260 Second Annual Report and Proceedings 



followed by the members of the Botanical Society, I would urge them to 

 recollect that it is very unbecoming in investigating a science which every 

 where abounds with proofs of universal benevolence, and that it is calculated 

 to do any thing rather than beget that kindliness of feeling which is necessary 

 to produce the mutual cooperation so necessary for eliciting truth in the 

 investigation of nature, regarding the operations of which a very moderate 

 share of humility would show that all are lamentably ignorant." 



In referring to the different periodicals, Professor Graham invariably men- 

 tions the number, or the month, seldom the year, and never the volume ; a 

 most unbusiness-like mode, to say the least of it, because it will occasion con- 

 siderable inconvenience to those who wish to turn to the papers to which 

 he refers, after the periodicals referred to are done up in volumes. In one 

 word, when Professor Graham undertook to give this report, which will be 

 looked to by Continental botanists as of importance, from its being the pro- 

 duction of a Regius Professor in one of the most celebrated of our universities, 

 he placed himself in a false position. 



Proceedings of the Botanical Society. — The papers which appear to have 

 been read at the different meetings embrace a variety of botanical subjects ; 

 and some of them, had they been given at length, are of considerable interest 

 to the gardener. 



July 13. 1837. — " Mr. J. M'Nab read an extract from his Journal of a Tour 

 through Canada and the United States, during the summer of 1834, containing 

 a highly interesting account of an excursion to the Falls of Niagara, with par- 

 ticular reference to the botanical features of that celebrated locality. The arbor 

 vita? {Thuja occidentalism was observed to be exceedingly abundant in the 

 neighbourhood of the Falls, overhanging the rapids in many places in the most 

 curious manner. Drawings were exhibited of some specimens of this tree, 

 which had sprung up in a very singular way. Several large lime trees had 

 been cut down, many years ago, about two feet above the ground ; and, after 

 decay had commenced, some seeds of arbor vitas had got into the centre of 

 them, where they had germinated, and now formed beautiful and handsomely 

 shaped trees, upwards of twenty feet in height, with stems twenty inches in 

 circumference. The deciduous trees chiefly consisted of platanus and tulip 

 trees, oaks, elms, limes, ashes, walnuts, beeches, birches, and poplars. The 

 herbaceous vegetation was very luxuriant, and presented many rare and in- 

 teresting species. The exposed rocky ground above the Falls was richly 

 adorned with dwarf shrubby plants, of which the Hypericum Kalmianum, then 

 in full flower, was the most conspicuous, whilst the swampy grounds were pro- 

 fusely covered with the beautiful scarlet and blue cardinal flowers {Lobelia 

 cardinalis and syphilitica.) Impatiens biflora was remarked as the plant growing 

 nearest the descending water of the Falls, being constantly within the influence 

 of the spray, and assuming a tall and spongy habit, without any appearance of 

 flowers. On Goat Island, which separates the American from the British 

 Fall, the herbaceous plants were very various, including Hepaticas, Trilliums, 

 Cypripediums, &c. ; also Sanguinaria canadensis, Hydrastis canadensis, Podo- 

 phyllum peltatum, Arum triphyllum, Jeffersonia diphylla, Symphoria racemosa, 

 &c. &c." 



Effects of the Winter of 1837-8. — " Dr. Graham stated that, in consequence 

 of the early, long-continued, and severe winter, a very considerable number of 

 half-hardy shrubby plants in the Botanic Garden had been more or less 

 injured ; and that he proposed exhibiting in a tabular form the extent of the 

 injury, distinguishing the plants according to their native country, their 

 natural orders, and the situations they occupied in the garden, whether upon 

 walls or in exposed or sheltered borders. He mentioned, at the same time, 

 that, in consequence of the much greater quantity of snow than usual, her- 

 baceous plants had sustained little injury, and gave as an example the Roscoea 

 purpurea, one of the Zinziberacece, which had lived in the open border without 

 protection during several winters, and flowered freely each summer." 



Nov. 9. 1837. — Dr. Graham exhibited drawings and gave an account of 

 several remarkable forms of trees which he had recently seen and examined. 







