ae aa 
4 
THE BOTANICAL CONGRESS AT FIORENCE. 187 
Norway, Profs. Andersson and Schubeler. Switzerland, Prof. Alphonse 
de Candolle and M. Desors. Wurtemburg, Prof. Hofmeister. The 
Marquis Ridolfi then proposed Dr. Hooker as President for the day, 
who was unanimously elected. Two secretaries were then nominated 
—M. Stephen Sommier and Dr. Levier, and on the latter declining to 
undertake the post, Professor Caruel of Pisa was chosen. 
The President (Dr. Hooker) having returned thanks for the honour 
conferred on him, announced the opening of the Congress. Sig. 
Ubaldino Peruzzi then, on the part of the city of Florence, and as 
superintendent of the Institute for Higher Studies, in a few eloquent 
sentences welcomed them all to the city of Florence, and reminded 
them of its ancient glory, and of the impulse then given to the pro- 
gress of Science and Art. i 
The first communication was from M. Planchon on the serious 
tayages of the Phylloxera vastatriz among the French vines. This 
insect seems to have come from America, and M. Planchon was a 
. remains now to adopt a mode of substitution so as not to, 
alter the flavour and quality of the celebrated wines of France. 
the disease seems to be approaching the confines of Italy, M. Planchon 
feels certain that the Italian vines will suffer unless urgent measures 
are adopted. Prof. Targioni-Tozzetti replied that measures were being 
“a and that the Minister of Agriculture had prohibited altogether 
a 
coll ters of Colchicum, of which he had brought from Greece a large 
€ction of dried specimens, by way of illustration. He believed 
establisheey, of the characters given as specific were not sufficiently 
Prof. Schimper made some interesting remarks on the is- 
which of a fossil vegetable impression in the granite of Mt. Blane, 
tended to favour the view of the metamorphic origin of 
of Caruel, the secretary, after this exhibited some fine fresh 
* eareiag of Cynomorium ecoccinewm from Sardinia, and explained the 
Ure of the male and female flowers. : 
(To be continued. ) 
