EXTKACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. 



xxxi 



the main cause of the deformity was attributable to the great in- 

 crease in thickness of the corky layers of the rind. No trace of 

 fungus had been seen. 



Phylloxera at the Gape. — Mr.' MacLachlan stated that he had 

 examined specimens sent from the Cape of diseased Vines, but 

 without finding any trace of the insect. He adverted to the folly 

 of indulging in panic, particularly where, as in this case, there was 

 no basis for it. The Chairman remarked that it had been reported 

 that the Cape Government had actually enacted or were about to 

 enact a law absolutely prohibiting the importation of any living 

 plants whatever beyond their frontier ; and he suggested that the 

 Council of the Society might be appropriately requested to take 

 steps to urge on the Colonial Government the useless folly of such 

 an enactment. Considerable discussion ensued, the Chairman and 

 others giving their experience of the working of similar laws in 

 Italy and Spain. Opinion was unanimous as to the futile character 

 of such enactments, and as to their absurdity when applied to plants 

 other than Vines, but as to official remonstrance on the part of the 

 Society it was considered better to await full official information. 



Peach Twigs and Galvanised Wire. — Mr. Hudson, gr., Gunners- 

 bury House, Acton, sent some shoots of Peach trees, which had 

 apparently been injured by being tied to galvanised wire. This is 

 a subject upon which there has been much discussion. The 

 specimens sent were referred to Dr. Hogg and the Rev. George 

 Henslow for examination and report. 



Specimens Shown. — By Mr. Eann : Flower-spike of Dasylirion 

 glaucophyllum, and male spike of Encephalartos villosus. By 

 Messrs. Veitch: specimens of Nepenthes bicalcarata. By Mr. 

 Caunell: a Primrose, supposed to have originated in a 

 cross between the English magenta-coloured hybrid Primrose and 

 the Chinese form. The plant exhibited was of a peculiar aspect, 

 dwarf habit, and with small flowers. Some of the petals were lilac, 

 others deep magenta, others variously blotched and spotted. The 

 foliage and the stems were of the character of the Chinese form. 



New Species of Crocus. — Mr. Maw then read his paper on this 

 subject, and illustrated it with numerous exquisite coloured draw- 

 ings. The paper will appear in extenso in the Journal of the 



