EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. 



Iv 



with remarkable scales of a rich brown colour, apparently of a 

 new species of Oxalis collected in South Africa by Mr. Farini in 

 1885. The outer scales are an inch in length, entire, and of a 

 linear pointed character. The inner scales are thread-like and 

 wavy. In situ they are packed closely together, forming a matted 

 cushion round the bulbs. Unfortunately, none of the latter 

 reached this country in a living state. From the material avail- 

 able there can be little doubt the plant is a species of Oxalis, but 

 different from anything represented under cultivation. It was 

 suggested that the spiral character of the inner scales may by 

 their hygroscopic character assist the bulbs to rise near the sur- 

 face after rains, and to descend during dry weather. 



Sclerotinia on Snowdrops. — Professor Marshall Ward ex- 

 hibited one of his very successful cultures of this disease raised 

 from the fungus which attacks snowdrops. He has worked out 

 a very complete life history, which will be hereafter published. 

 With reference to Mr. Barr's experience of the dying out of snow- 

 drops in a rich soil, Mr. Wilson remarked that he inquired of Mr. 

 Melville, of Dunrobin Gardens, Golspie, N.B., who raises large 

 numbers. His reply is that they do very well with him, his land 

 being a deep, free, black loam resting on an old sea-bottom of 

 gravel and sand. He adds that he thinks snowdrops and other 

 bulbs are very impatient of an adhesive, clayey, or wet and cold, 

 as well as ill-drained soil, good drainage being imperative. The 

 question was raised as to the meaning of the common expression 

 " predisposition to disease " in plants. Mr. Dyer remarked upon 

 the ambiguous and misleading character of this term, and 

 emphasised the necessity of ascertaining in each case the real 

 cause of an attack by a fungus. Thus, if a hypha entered by the 

 stoma, a varying degree in the size of this organ might make all 

 the difference as to the immunity of a plant from a parasitic 

 attack, which, therefore, would have had nothing to do with the 

 constitution of the plant, and so might not be in the least degree 

 enfeebled. Sir C. Strickland remarked that certain varieties of 

 potatoes had at first been liable to the disease, but resisted it 

 afterwards. Hence in their case also it might have been due to 

 some such mechanical cause as a thickened cuticle, and not 

 necessarily to an altered constitutional character. 



Blue Primroses. — Mr. Wilson exhibited a box containing three 

 flowers of " Scott Wilson" primrose and one flower each of its 



