Botanical Society of Edinburgh. 237 



In the introductory remarks, the author examines the opinions 

 entertained by botanists as to the existence, in these plants, of bodies 

 equivalent to the stamens and pistils of the higher orders of vege- 

 tables. I'he arguments in favour of their existence are, the presence 

 in the same or different individuals of two kinds of cells, the union 

 of which in some way appears to be necessary for the production of 

 germinating spores. These cells sometimes exist in the same cavity, 

 so that the functions cannot be always easily detected ; at other 

 times they are separate. In the latter case, the spores are occa- 

 sionally produced by the actual conjugation of two individuals of the 

 same species. The spores, when first discharged, frequently exhibit 

 ciliary movements, like those seen in the ova of animals. And 

 lastly, the cells representing anthers often contain phytozoa, or 

 moving bodies similar to the spermatozoa of animals. 



The reproduction of Algce is then brought under consideration as 

 observed in Diatomaceco and Confervacea, with their cell- division, 

 conjugation, and development of endochrome ; in the Fucacece and 

 Ceramiacece, with their anthey-idia spores and tetraspores ; and in Cha- 

 racece, with their globule and nucule. 



In regard to the latter tribe, the following points are noticed as 

 favouring the opinion that the globule may be compared to an anther 

 and the nucule to the pistil : — their co-existence and close proximity 

 — the opening of the valves of the globule to allow the escape of 

 filaments and phytozoa (similar to those of Fuci, which Thuret and 

 Decaisne have shown to be connected with staminal functions) — the 

 existence of an opening at the apex of the nucule allowing commu- 

 nication with the interior — the capability of germination in the con- 

 tents of the nucule when mature — and the decadence of the globule 

 prior to the ripening of the nucule. 



3. Dr. Balfour read a communication from Mr. Charles Lawson, 

 jun., relative to the cultivation of potatoes by cuttings of the stems. 

 Six cuttings were planted on the 16th of June, 1847, kept in a warm 

 frame for six weeks and then planted out; they produced twenty 

 tubers of very considerable size. 



4. Mr. Brand read an extract from a letter from W. A. Stables, 

 Esq., relative to the plantations recently made on Lord Cawdor's estate 

 in Nairnshire : — " The forester planted 230 imperial acres in nine 

 days — 57 women and boys being employed each day, and the average 

 number of trees planted by each was 1566 a day. Two-thirds of 

 the plants were larch, and the remainder Scotch fir — in all, 3465 

 plants per acre. The plants were two-years-old seedlings. The 

 cost of inclosing was 75/. Gs. 10c?., and of planting 16/. 85. 8rf. — 

 together, 92/. 55. Qd., or about 7^. 7c?. per acre of outlay." 



At this meeting the following gentlemen were elected office- 

 bearers for the ensuing year: — Rev. Dr. Fleming, President; Drs. 

 Greville, Balfour, Christison, Neill, Vice-Presidents; SirW. Jardine, 

 Bart., Dr. Seller, Dr. Lowe, Mr. W. M'Nab, Mr. C. Lawson, jun., 

 Prof. Allen Thomson.Mr. J. Marshall, jun., Mr. R. Holden, Mr. Wm. 

 Ivory, Mr. W, Wright, Councillors ; Mr. Brand, Treasurer ; Professor 

 Goodsir, Secretary ; Dr. Douglas Maclagan, Foreign Secretary ; 



