1 74< Boijal Caledonian Horticultural Society. 



ficence. From the anatomical and physiological characters of these various 

 species of Rhizomorpha, it is evident that Linnaeus was perfectly justified in 

 placing them amongst the cryptogamous, or flowerless, plants ; a division cor- 

 responding nearly to the Cellulares, or Acrogens, of natural systems : but the 

 exact posiuon which this genus ought to occupy in the scale has been a fertile 

 subject of dispute ; in illustration of it may be mentioned, that Rhizomorpha 

 subterranea itself was placed by Linnteus among the lichens, and designated 

 iichen radiciformis. And although these curious and highly interesting pro- 

 ductions of vegetable creation have, by succeeding botanists, been elevated to 

 the rank of a distinct genus, still their precise relations of affinity to other 

 genera of cellular plants have not been satisfactorily ascertained, even at the 

 present day. 



The specimen alluded to in the foregoing observations has been presented 

 by Mr. R. R. Shillitoe, of University College, London, to Dr. Lindiey, Pro- 

 fessor of Botany in that College ; to the botanical museum of which esta- 

 blishment it will, from its extreme rarity, form a most desirable and valuable 

 acquisition. {Hertford Reformer, Oct. 19. 1839.) 



Stale of Knowledge of the Middling Classes, in a Village in Suffolk. — You can 

 hardly suppose how ignorant some of them are of everything beyond the pre- 

 cincts of the village. I have induced a few to belong to a Friendly Society, 

 instead of the usual pot-house club, and I mean that they should come to the 

 Rectory once a quarter, and spend a quiet evening with me, when I propose 

 to teach them draughts and chess, two games they had never heard of. _ I 

 think that by teaching a few, I form so many centres of instruction by which 

 others pick up a little. Now that I am become a constant resident, I propose 

 confining my lectures to once per month, at least to one subject per month, for 

 I shall occasionally have to repeat them. Next Tuesday my subject is " Quartz 

 and Glass." — J. Sept., 1839. 



Art. II. Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society. 



The Winter General Meeting of this Society was held on Thursday the 

 5th December, 1839. 



The secretary. Dr. Neill, stated that several interesting communications 

 had of late been made to the Society; and, in particular, he read a portion 

 of a horticultural tour, made by Mr. M'Nab, the superintendant of the gar- 

 den, during the month of October last ; a letter from Mr. Anderson, Mary- 

 field, on striking cuttings while still attached to the live plant, by partially 

 dividing the stem and surrounding it with damp hypnum-moss ; a description 

 of a new epiphyte pot, a specimen of the pot, containing a fine plant of Stan- 

 hopea insignis, being placed on the table; and a letter from M. Rene Lange- 

 lier of the Clarendon Nurseries, Jersey ; with a report by Mr. M'Nab, relative 

 to a splendid collection of pears sent to the meeting by that eminent nur- 

 seryman. This was an important communication. " It appears that about 

 twenty of the kinds were previously in the Society's Garden, but at least a 

 dozen were new to it. Of these novelties, grafts will soon be procured, they 

 having been proffered by the liberal cultivator. The new pear called Van 

 Mons Leo ^ le Clerc was found to be melting, and of musky flavou. Some 

 of the stewing pears were of uncommon size ; a specimen of the Double- 

 fleur weio-hing 1 lb. 4 oz. ; and a Cadillac 1 lb. 1 oz. It is remarkable, how- 

 ever, that, among the dessert pears, the Duchesse d'Angouleme, from Hope- 

 toun Garden, was considerably larger than that from Jersey, although the latter 

 was more mellow and of richer flavour. 



The show of Scottish pears and apples on this occasion was not extensive, 

 but the specimens were in general excellent. The chrysanthemums were also 

 good ; but the greatest display was in the article celery, the cultivation and 



