124 Address. [Feb. 



A paper, by Mr. H. F. Blanford, giving a List of the Ferns of Simla, 

 between levels of 4,500 and 10,500 feet, was read at the May meeting 

 of our Society and will be published immediately. 



Dr. Prain has just completed his monograph on the Indian Pedi- 

 culares, noticed in last year's ' Address,' and has presented it for publi- 

 cation by our Society. 



General Oollett, C. B. has continued his collection of the plants 

 of the Shan Hills under his command, and among other novelties has 

 discovered a new rose. The Botany of these hills having hitherto been 

 as obscure as their economical and political condition, General Collett's 

 collections are of much interest. A detailed account of them will soon 

 be published. 



In the Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society the following 

 botanical papers may be noted. " Note on Vigna vexillata," by the Rev. 

 A. G. Cane, in which he describes the ingenious contrivances by which 

 the fertilisation of the flowers is secured. Brigade-Surgeon W. Dymock 

 continues his papers on " Marathi names of Plants " and also contributes an 

 interesting paper on " the means of self-protection possessed by plants." 

 Dr. K. P. Kirtikar's Lecture on the " Folklore of Indian plants," though 

 not botanical, is of interest as containing tales and legends connected 

 with many of our best known trees and plants. 



In an interesting paper on the " conditions for the distribution of 

 plants and the means by which it is performed, with special regard to 

 Indian species," Mr. G. Cartensen discusses the special means of protec- 

 tion possessed by various members of the Indian flora against heat, 

 drought, and other climatic and meteorological influences affecting them. 

 Mr. M. H. Starling gives a description of the difficulties which attend 

 growing ferns from spores, and the best way of overcoming them. 



A very full account of the Botany of the Afghan Delimitation Com- 

 mission, by Dr. J. E. T. Aitchison, C. I. E., the naturalist attached to 

 the Mission, has been published in the Transactions of the Linnean 

 Society for 1888. The author describes the physical features and accom- 

 panying vegetation met with in the course of the Mission throuo-h 

 Northern Baluchistan, the valleys of the Helmund, Harut and Hari 

 Rud rivers, the Badghis district, Mount Do-shakh and Khorasan, and 

 gives an enumeration of the plants. 



The Journal of the same Society (Botany) contains a " Revision of 

 the Genera Microstylis and Malaxis," by H. E". Ridley, in which reference 

 is made to several Indian species of Microstylis. 



In the Journal of Botany, I find some notes by Col. Beddome on 

 Ferns from Manipur, Perak and Penang. 



Mr, J. F. Dutkie, the Director of the Botanical Department North- 



