EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. 



liii 



there was some doubt as to the name a further report will be 

 made. APritillaria from Japan was shown by Messrs. Yeitch, and 

 is supposed to be ~F. verticillata var. Thunbergii. It has long linear 

 leaves terminating in a tendril and small greenish-yellow, bell- 

 shaped flowers, faintly mottled with purple. Colonel Clarke 

 showed a yellow Chrysanthemum in full flower, and explained the 

 method by means of which he succeeded in getting the plant to 

 flower at so unseasonable a time. The plant, when the flowering 

 period is over, and after a short rest, is put into a steaming hot 

 temperature for a time, with the result of causing the development 

 of heretofore latent buds on the young stem. Colonel Clarke also 

 showed a spray of the Lace Bark, Lagetta lintearia, in bloom. 

 The broadly ovate leaves are of a rich green colour, while the cylin- 

 drical flowers are of an opaque white. The name lace-bark was 

 given on account of the netted character of the inner bark, which 

 is used as a substitute for lace in Jamaica. A curious Begonia 

 from Cochin China, with prostrate stem and obliquely ovate leaves 

 of a purplish colour with a central blotch, was shown by Messrs. 

 Yeitch, and excited much curiosity. It was not in a condition for 

 determination, but had the provisional name of B. Davidiana. 



Wood from Gravel Deposit. — Mr. W. G. Smith exhibited a piece 

 of a tree-branch recently thrown out from the base of a 25 feet 

 excavation of sand and gravel at Shackelwell. The wood dated 

 back from the deposition of the gravel and sand by the Thames at 

 this place. The drift deposit here belongs to one of the higher and 

 older terraces of the river. 



Japan Birch. — Dr. Masters showed, for Messrs. Maule, of Bristol, 

 a portion of the trunk of this tree, perhaps a variety of B. utilis 

 (see Gardeners 1 Chronicle, 1876, vol. v., p. 360). The bark was 

 of peculiarly silvery-white papery nature and very beautiful. 

 Messrs. Maule write — 



1 ' The specimen of Japan Birch is cut from a tree in our nur- 

 series. We got it from seed at the same time we raised Pyrus 

 Maulei. "We do not consider that there are two species. The 

 specimens sent you we considered were all the same, as even the 

 common Birch differs a little from seed ; but all of these Japan 

 Birches are paper-barked and silver without exception. Tou know 



