Ixx PEOCEEDIN'GS OF THE KOYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



as primroses and other wild flowers by hawkers and by visitors to the 

 country. Prof. Boiiiger said that there might possibly be some legal 

 enactments before long upon the subject, and that the Devon County 

 Council were endeavouring to get a by-law, dealing with the uprooting 

 of wild flowers, sanctioned by the Home Secretary. 



Rhododendron arhoreum. — Mr. Duncan Davidson sent flowers of this 

 Himalayan species from Dingwall, where a specimen is growing in a 

 shrubbery on strong clay at about 400 feet above sea level, and half a 

 mile from the sea. The tree is about 20 feet to 25 feet in height, 

 and as much through, the stem at the ground level measuring 36 inches 

 in circumference. The tree is planted on the north side of a clump of 

 other rhododendrons, about 20 yards through, and is sheltered on the 

 north by conifers and shrubs. It usually flowers at the end of November 

 on to the end of March or beginning of April. 



Narcissus icith leafy Spathe. — Mr. Jenkins, of Hampton Hill, sent 

 a specimen of Xarcissus princeps in which the usually membranous 

 spathe had become leafy, and was hooded in shape at the apex. As Mr. 

 Jenkins remarked, the corona had suffered in making its escape fi-om the 

 sheath, being considerably contracted on one side. 



Oclum multifloru. — Dr. Masters drew attention to this plant exhibited 

 by Mr. Charles Turner, of the Royal Nurseries, Slough, which had 

 received a First-class Certificate in 1879, but was little seen in gardens. 

 The main peculiarity lay in the fruit. The flower is somewhat incon- 

 spicuous ; but as the fruit ripens the calyx becomes enlarged and bright 

 red, and the receptacle also becomes red and very fleshy. 



Scientific Committee, May 1, 1906. 

 Dr. M. T. Mastees, F.R.S., in the Chair, and seventeen members present. 



Gardenia Boots dying. — Mr. Ct. S. Saunders. F.L.S., reported that 

 he had carefully examined the roots of Gardenia sho^vn at the last 

 meeting, but could find no trace of eel worm. A fungus of some kind 

 was, however, present, which might account for the death of the roots. 



Variation in Ferns. — Mr. H. B. May showed examples of crested forms 

 of two sp.ecies of Nephrolepis — N. exaltata and X rufescens — both of 

 which bore curious tassel-like growths. He remarked that he had not 

 seen anything of the kind in exotic ferns before ; he found that the 

 tassels die after being in existence a short time. Mr. Druery, V.M.H., 

 said that, although such variation in exotic ferns was new to him, he had 

 found a similar thing to occur in British ferns— e.^r. in Athyriu?Ji, 

 Lastrcea monta?ia, and Scolopendrium. He considered that the forma- 

 tion of the tassels was due to the growth of the nerve beyond the region 

 of development of the flattened portion of the frond and its subsequent 

 repeated branching. He thought their early death was to be explained 

 by the fact that they must be functionless. 



Variation in Colour of Tendrils of Siceet Peas. — Mr. Cuthbertson 

 drew attention to the fact that some varieties of sweet peas had from 

 their earliest growth a reddish tint in theu- tendrils, while others were 



