1vi. ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS. 
Monthly Meeting, 1ith September, 1918. 
Dr. J. B. CLELAND in the Chair. 
The report of the sub-committee in connection with the 
development of horticulture was submitted. It was 
resolved that a letter be written to the Minister of Agri- 
culture, drawing his attention to the necessity for the 
establishment of a School of Horticulture, and inviting his 
assistance in the matter. It was resolved that the Section 
should offer their services as a sub-committee in order to 
carry out experiments to test Dr. PEARL’s mean hypotheses, 
the committee to consist of Professor WATT, and Messrs. 
H. W. Ports, DARNELL-SMITH, and HINDMARSH. 
Mr. EH. M. WARD delivered a lecture on ‘‘ Hybridisation.”’ 
The lecturer referred to the rapid progress made in the 
hybridisation of flowering plants and fruits. As far as 
horticulture was concerned, it was not necessary to have 
fertility in the hybrid, asa sexual propagation from cuttings 
or buds could be carried out with the hybrid, This was the 
cage with the beautiful display of Begonia Gloirede Lorraine 
in one of the Botanic Gardens’ houses. Hxpert plant 
breeders hybridised to get a break or to obtain the ideal 
for which they had been seeking. Then by selection and — 
‘breeding they aimed at fixity of the plant. Crossing differ- 
ent generaor different species led to sterility in the progeny, 
and seemed impracticable from an agricultural point of 
view. In the case of graft hybrids, it was only factors 
like increased vigour, productiveness, or flavour which 
were influenced by the stock. Mr. WARD showed what 
could be done by crossing, instancing the Httersburg straw- 
berry. This was raised by Mr. Etter, of Ettersburg, Cali- 
fornia. By crossing different species, he produced the 
Rose Ettersburg with no flavour. Knowing that the com- 
mon alpine strawberry had a good flavour, he crossed this 
