66 



rUOl KKDlNUS UK TIIK 



(loijrco, than wlu-ii, troiii tlu' coUliu'ss of a station, llu-y wore kopt 

 ill ilu'ir ordinary winter condition. 



'riir toin|H'ralurc ot" the earth at dilVerent depths, during- the 

 prcvalenee of tl»e frost, was mentioned us exphiining* why so 

 many trees that had heen killed to the ground were afterwards 

 t>l)served to spring up agaui. In tlie Soeiety's garden two ther- 

 • mometers were huritd in tlie eartli, one at tlie dejjth of 1 foot, 

 the other at the depth of 'J feet, and their indications were noted 

 daily, when it was found tliat the ground was never fro/en to the 

 depth of a foot, even while the teuipi-rature of the surface was as 

 low as 4 J" below zero, and tiiat it did not fall to within 5° of 

 freezing at the depth of '2 feet during the same period. 



'i'he last subject which had engaged the author's attention was 

 the physical .elVect of extreme cold upon ])lants. After noticing 

 the opinions upon this subject, given by Professors Goppert of 

 Breslau. and Morren of Liege, and describing various observa- 

 tions which he had hitnself made, he arrived at the conclusion, 

 that the more important pluenomena connected with the action 

 of extreme cold uj)on plants, consist in the distension of cellular 

 succulent i)arts, often attended by laceration, and always byTi 

 destruction of irritability 3 the expulsion of air from the aeri- 

 ferous passages and cells ; the introduction of air into parts 

 intended exclusively to contain fluid ; a chemical decomposition 

 of the tissue aiM its contents, especially of chlorophyll ; a de- 

 struction of the vitality of the latex, and a stoppage of the action 

 of its vessels j and finally, an obstruction of the interior of the 

 tubes of ])leurenchyma, by the distension of their sides. 



This report was stated to contain observations upon between 

 six and seven hundred species and varieties. 



The following objects were exhibited j 



From Mr. John Lumsden, gardener to Henry Bevan, Esq., 

 six fruits of Oranges. 



From A. P. Phelps, Esq., fruit of the Jujube, and of the Cerise 

 du Japan of the shops, or Plujsalis Alkekerigi. 



From ]\Ir. George Glenny some stove and greenhouse plants. 



From Robert (iunter, Esq., three Queen Pine Apples, the 

 largest of which weighed 4lb. 13 oz. 



From Mr. J. Bowers, two branches of a seedling Grape. 



From Mr. T. Harding, Gardener to the llev. Frederick Bea- 

 don, a collection of Apples. 



From Mr. J. Falconer, Gardener to Archdale Palmer, Esq., a 

 specimen of Ornithogalum thijrsoideum. 



From xMrs. Lawrence, a collection of 22 Stove and Greenhouse 

 plants, including a very fine specimen of Plumbago rosea, and 

 another of Luculia gratissima. 



From Mr. John (ireen. Gardener to Sir Edmund Antrobus, Bart., 



