XXxii PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL nORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



flower. Mr. O'Brien, V.]\I.H., added the following observations on 

 the point : — "The point commented on applies in a more or less degree 

 to most hybrids — viz., the varying evidence of one or other of the 

 parents in the different stages of the growth of the flower. In the buds 

 of the Urceocharis, the yellow and green colours of 17. j^^'/zr/z/ /a are strongly 

 shown. 80 also is the form of the bud of Urceolina. As the flower 

 matures, these characters gradually get obliterated by the influence of 

 Eucharis grandiflom, until, in the mature flower, the yellow colour and 

 most of the green has departed, and the white of the Eucharis asserts 

 itself, the chief indication of Urceolina being the ventricose form of the 

 perianth. The vanishing of the colour, where white or some of the 

 fainter tints are used on the one side, is, I think, a natural consequence, as 

 the colour of the coloured species is mostly surface colour." 



Dioscorea sativa. — This bears tubers (one of which was sent) at every 

 joint, for a length of 40 feet. The tuber, which was globular, would send 

 out a shoot 3 or 4 feet or more in length if kept indoors. 



Kola acuminata. — A flowering shoot of this tree which bears the Kola 

 nut. The calyx is orange- coloured, the corolla is wanting, and the leaves 

 are dimorphic, like that of the Fig, &c. 



Aloe sj). nov. — This is said to agree with specimens collected in Somali- 

 land. It was taken to the Natural History Museum for identification. 



Hcterotoma looclioides. — Tlie P)ird Plant of Mexico ; the flower is 

 remarkable for the receptacular tube extending as a beak in front, carry- 

 ing two small sepals at the extremity, and the tubular corolla adherent to 

 it throughout. 



Cornus mas. — Flowering from the middle to the end of January, even 

 on to March. Hamamelis virginiana. — Wych Hazel ; the nut is eaten in 

 Virginia, and is regarded as a valuable medicine there. Hardcnhergia 

 Comptoniana. — A very pretty climber for a greenhouse. Siphocampylus 

 lanceolatus. — A quite uncommon plant. Disliacanthns scarlatinus. — A 

 brilliant Bromeliad. — Crocus Imperati, C. cJirysanthiis, and C. Sieberi. — 

 Winter-flowering species, now nearly over. 



Scientific Committee, February 26, 1901. 

 Dr. M. T. Masters, F.R.S., in the Chair, and fifteen members present. 



Double Tulips. — Mr. Houston exhibited and commented upon an 

 early double Tulip, pointing out that the filaments of the stamens became 

 petals (as in the Water Lily), and that from his experience a dry poor 

 soil appeared to be conducive to the process of doubling. Stock seed, for 

 instance, gave 90 per cant, of doubles under those conditions. On the 

 other hand, Mr. Wilks observed that Papaver Rhceas become double in a 

 rich garden border, but rarely, if ever so, in the wild state. Professor 

 Boulger remarked that he had found Banunculus acris and Geiun rivale 

 often double in moist places ; Cardamine p)ratensis has also occurred 

 double in similar situations. Mr. Douglas's experience was that Carna- 

 tions raised in pots gave many more doubles than when in the open 

 border, only 10 to 12 per cent, being single. This would seem to agree 

 with Mr. Houston's experience. Professor Henslow drew attention to the 



