DISCUSSION ON PEOPESSOB HAUGHTON's FOBEGNING PAPEE. 95 



while a " cold season," with considerable depression of temperature, also 

 alternated. The well-known histoiy of the now common Aucnha Japo- 

 nica was instructive in this matter — a Japanese plant, from a temperate 

 climate, first grown in hothouses, then transferred to greenhouses, 

 where it succeeded better, then to sheltered spots outside ; and, finally, 

 as we now see it, one of the hardiest of our shrubs everywhere. Plants 

 were alike regarded as Himalayan, whether from a lofty altitude, or 

 from the warm valleys at the base of the mountains, and were sometimes 

 treated in like manner. Mr. Blyth had been several times shown the 

 Himalayan Phoenix or date palm. In the Garden of the London 

 Zoological Society he had seen a healthy Dracaena growing in the open 

 air in the months of January and February, which was merely sheltered 

 a little during frost. A small Chinese palm, the Chamcerops Fortuni, 

 had thriven for several years past in the open ground at Kew ; and in 

 the new palmhouse at Kew, where the plants were merely sheltered 

 from the weather outside, and that grand conservatory only moderately 

 heated during frost, he remarked some of his old Indian acquaintances 

 in the plant line doing much better than he had observed previously 

 anywhere in the British Islands. As one instance, he would mention 

 the Plumbago Capensis. In some instances, Mr. Blyth had observed 

 small mango trees in pots, in hothouses, which blossomed regularly, but 

 did not set their fruit. The reason to him was obvious. The mango 

 requires an arid atmosphere when in bloom. In Bengal, a shower of 

 rain, or even a mist, will generally diminish or upset the mango crop 

 for the season. Remove the plant to a moderately warm house, with a 

 dry atmosphere, and it will set its fruit as surely as it perfects its 

 flowers. 



Dr. Moore did not consider that the presumed acclimatization of 

 plants was feasible. He would instance the case of the potato. This 

 plant had been cultivated with all care, and had been propagated from 

 seed and by division, yet was as tender — nay, more tender than when 

 it was brought a century ago from Peru ; to this day it will not stand 

 frost. Mr. Blyth seemed to forget our very changeable climate, enor- 

 mous fluctuations and alternations in temperature taking place within 

 a very few hours ; this, as well as our humid atmosphere and the compa- 

 ratively little light, were circumstances which Mr. Blyth seemed dis- 

 posed to overlook. The Aucuba and Palm mentioned by him were 

 hardly cases in point — both Japanese plants, they had to withstand frost 

 in their native country. 



Dr. Archibald H. Jacob, Ely-place, was elected an Ordinary Mem- 

 ber of the Society. 



The meeting then adjourned to the first Friday in March. 



