XX PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
spicuously to the varieties raised by their comparatively few 
raisers ? Surely if cross-fertilisation were natural, the raising of 
new varieties would seem a common event not worth chronicling." 
This question might be asked of all other plants as well. The 
reply is, that Mr. Burbidge here refers to one cause of variability, 
intercrossing, and omits the commoner one, a change of environ- 
ment, which may give rise to it as well. With regard to the 
former, there is always the antagonistic process of self-fertilisa- 
tion to overcome. This fixes, or tends to fix, characters, while 
the other tends to alter them. Self-fertilisation, however, is the 
rule in nature, notwithstanding the numerous contrivances for 
intercrossing. Mr. Ironside adds the further question : "Do 
our English authorities, when describing the seeding or fertilisa- 
tion of flowers not indigenous to the soil of Great Britain, give 
their opinions of experiences based on their having seen them in 
their native state, or otherwise?" Perhaps some author will 
reply to this question. 
Scientific Committee, March 12, 1895. 
Dr. M. T. Masters in the Chair, and seven members present. 
Dendrohium Wardianum. — A plant was exhibited by Mr. 
Hugh Low, lately received from Burmah, remarkable for having 
four flowers, two on one stem and two on a second stem, each 
pair of flowers being quite distinct, but arising from the same 
point, and all four flowers with two lips. Dr. Masters undertook 
to examine and report upon them. 
Libocedrus dccurrens. — Dr. Masters exhibited specimens re- 
ceived from Mr. Meelian, of Germantown, Philadelphia, in which 
the terminal portions of the shoots had been attacked by some 
grub (Cecidomyia). The consequence was that the leaves, instead 
of being minute, with mucronate tips and adherent to the axis, 
were broad at the base, free and lanceolate, thus bringing about 
what would seem to be a reversion to a more ancestral state of 
the foliage. 
Pholidota .sp. (?) diseased. — Dr. Masters showed some 
Orchid leaves with rows of circular spots, having a central hole 
due to some fungus. The specimen was interesting from an 
