136 JSJoii:es of Communications to the Society, of which 



nication was referred by the Council, observes that a mix- 

 ture of oil and tar is preferable to tar alone, because such 

 mixture will keep moist for a long time; and if the ring be 

 made even broader than is here proposed, no injury will be 

 done to the trees thereby, and it will protect the bark from 

 the bite of hares and rabbits, if the trees be in a situation 

 exposed to their attacks. Mr. Mac Le ay also suggests, that 

 as it is this same caterpillar, which is so destructive to Rose 

 buds, the application of the ointment to the stems of Rose 

 trees will be serviceable. 



At the same Meeting. Seeds of a new Cucumber, which had 

 been transmitted by Dr. Wallick, Superintendant of the 

 Botanic garden at Calcutta, a Corresponding Member of the 

 Society, were distributed. The following is the account given 

 of this Cucumber by Dr. Wallick ; the fruit usually weighs 

 upwards of twelve pounds weight, measures in girth twenty- 

 four inches, and in length seventeen inches ; it was sent to 

 him from Napal, by Lieutenant Boileau, commanding the 

 Residency escort at Katmandie. The plants raised from 

 these seeds, though sown late in the season, have produced 

 Cucumbers of extraordinary size, though not equal to that 

 above stated. Their flavour has been thought by some per- 

 sons more pleasant than that of our common Cucumbers, 

 and for stewing they are considerably superior. 



At the same Meeting. Mr. Henry Shaileb exhibited 

 a singular Flower from an Apple tree, in his garden, at Little 

 Chelsea. It was a complete double blossom, nearly two 

 inches in diameter, and spreading flatly, very much in the 

 manner of a Carnation. The tree from which it was ga- 

 thered, occasionally produces flowers of this description, 



