exxxiv p?. xeedlvgs of the royal horticultural society. 



To the Rkriit Hon. Lord Foley, Ruxley Lodge. Esher (gar- 

 dener. Mr. J. Miller ■, for some fine Mushrooms from a bed in 



the open ground. 

 Vote of Thanks. 



To H. Balderson. Esq., Hemel Hempstead, for fine examples 

 of 10 varieties of Grapes, grown in the one house. The Black 

 Hanibro". White Tokay. Golden Champion. Foster's Seedling", 

 and Alicante were the most noticeable. 



Other Exhibits. 



B. A Cart wright, Esq. (gardener, Mr. Wiles i. showed some 

 examples of Wiles's Brussels Sprouts. 



The Committee examined the collection of Brussels Sprouts, 

 numbering thirty, growing in the Gardens, and selected Paris 

 Market, from Vilmoriu & Co.. Paris, a dwarf variety, forming 

 small compact sprouts, and Xortham Prize, from Messrs. 

 James Veitch & Sons, for three marks = First -class Certificate : 

 and Paris Market, Oakshott & Millard, for two marks. Best of 

 All, from Mr. Atherton- Chatteris, a tall-growing variety, was 

 commended. The Committee were of opinion that most of 

 the varieties were too large and coarse. 



SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE. 



Albebt P- Michael. Esq., FX.S., in the Chair, and eight 

 members present. 

 Moiistrous Chrysanthemums. — Mr. Burbidge exhibited two 

 flowers, in one of which the corollas had become partly virescent 

 and distorted : in the other they were surrounded by a numerous 

 progeny of buds, producing the " hen and chicken '' form. The 

 question was raised as to the possibility of fixing such peculiar 

 monstrosities by breeding. It was observed by Mr. Veitch that 

 a tendency to doubling is secured and intensified by self -fertilisa- 

 tion, as occurred in the Balsamifiorum section of his East Indian 

 Rhododendrons. Mr. O'Brien remarked, that the first double 

 Begonias were secured in precisely the same way. Observations 

 were made on the possibility of the effects of mechanical injury 

 to plants being hereditary. It was the belief of Mr. O'Brien 

 that Ferns may become tasselled. and transmit that feature, solely 

 from repeated injury to the fronds, judging from a case within 

 his experience. Mr. Burbidge also corroborated the belief that 



