xxxiv PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



M If Mendel's Laws are sufficiently elastic to account for and include the 

 varied characteristics to be derived in hybrid Orchids, the utility for 

 practical purposes, I fear, will be small indeed. ^Yhat I should like to know 

 is, how long it will take to procure the original parent of either A or B, even 

 providing those hybrids which more nearly represent either of the two 

 parents are used. I have previously shown that I consider any hybrid 

 capable of reproducing itself true from seed. Further experience shows us 

 that if the hybrid is again crossed with one of the parents, we are able to 

 procure practically intermediate characteristics between the two parents 

 used. I might refer to the two new Phaius, P. 1 Give ' {simulans x 

 1 Norman '), and P. 1 Harold ' (Sanderianus x 1 Norman '), both of which 

 have been sufficiently distinct to receive recognition from the Orchid 

 Committee. It will be noted that P. x ' Norman ' is a hybrid between 

 P. simulans xWallacliii var. Sanderianus). ^Yhat we want to know is 

 the ' truth ' of the matter and to apply all the desirable facilities that 

 we are able to procure to practical purposes. I will do my best to aid 

 Mr. C. C. Hurst in his researches, and will do my utmost to supply what 

 has been suggested during the flowering season." 



Dangerous Compounds. — Mr. Holmes directed attention to a very 

 dangerous preparation of arsensic offered for sale without proper safe- 

 guards under the name of "An Ant Destroyer." The bottle shown 

 contained about three-quarters of an ounce of arsenic and fifteen fluid 

 ounces of syrup, or enough to poison 150 adults. As it is recommended 

 on the label that the preparation should be put on vine rods &c, it would 

 probably prove either fatal to bees or poison their honey ; since these 

 insects eagerly steal sugar or a sugary solution wherever they find it ; and, 

 if placed on stones, to dogs, to say nothing of children, who, finding a 

 sweet fluid in an ordinary bottle, might find it particularly attractive, the 

 arsenic present being quite tasteless. The maker's name is not on the 

 bottle. It must be a very profitable article to the manufacturers, as it 

 costs less than 6cZ., and sells for 3s. 6(7. The word " poison " is not on a 

 separate label, and might be easily overlooked. The Committee agreed 

 with Mr. Holmes that such a dangerous preparation ought not to be 

 freely obtainable by the public without proper restrictions, as provided by 

 the Pharmacy Act of 1868, especially as other effective insecticides, not 

 poisonous to animals, are obtainable without difficulty. 



Scientific Committee, April 7, 1903. 

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



Scientific Investigations. — The reply from the Council to the resolu- 

 tion adopted on March 10 was as follows : — " 'Whilst the Council very 

 'j\ < ;itly desire to see such a department created in connection with the 

 Society's Gardens, they think it a matter which, under existing circum- 

 stances, had better be deferred for twelve months." 



Primrose malformed. — Mr. A. W. Sutton, Y.M.H., Woolhampton, 

 sent a specimen in which the umbel was partly formed, but with multi- 

 fold flowers of twelve parts, and with a partly petaloid calyx &c. 



