Ixviii 
EOTAL HORTICULTUBAL SOCIETY. 
Dr. Masters brought drawings illustrative of the structure of 
the green Primrose exhibited at the last Meeting ; also of a 
branched AlsopTiila excelsa from Sydney; also of a double- 
flowered Rhododendron, in which two adventitious styles pro- 
ceeded from the axile placentse, which were completely concealed 
within the central cavity of the ordinary style. 
He also made some observations confirmatory of the views 
respecting the function of the fleshy roots of certain species of 
Crocus which were brought forward by Mr. Berkeley at a former 
Meeting *. They appear to supplement the resources of the old 
corm. 
The Meeting then adjourned. 
GENEEAL MEETING. 
Mr. Ellacombe sent a very interesting collection of Narcissus, 
though it was rather late for the neighbourhood of Bath : others 
were sent from the Chelsea garden by Mr. Moore ; and others 
from Denbighshire by Mrs. Lloyd Wynne. 
Amongst Mr. EUacombe's contribution was a double Eritillaria, 
and fine specimens of Hellehorus lividus and H. orientalis, excel- 
lent species for planting in shrubberies, but perhaps not quite so 
hardy as S.foetidus, which was once common in Northamptonshire, 
but is now nearly extirpated. Also specimens of Ornithogalum 
nutans, the young shoots of which are eaten like Asparagus. 
Mr. Berkeley then read the following communication from 
Mr. Smee : — 
"Having to draw up some remarks upon the circulation of 
water in hot-water pipes, it occurred to me that the flow and re^ 
turn might be managed by the use of a single pipe instead of two, 
as now universally adopted. 
" I directed the experiment to be tried by affixing to the socket 
end of a 4-inch an inch supply-pipe from an ordinary boiler, and a 
second pipe communicating with the bottom of the 4-inch pipe and 
the bottom of the boiler. As I expected, the circulation was most 
perfect and rapid, the hot water flowing along the upper surface 
* Figures will be found of these last in the ' Gardener's Chronicle,' April 22, 
1871. They consist of spongy cellular tissue enclosing a central mass of spiral 
■vessels, among which may be seen occasionally intricately netted larger vessels. 
