SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE, NOVEMBER 15. 



Ivii 



to horticultural interests within the metropolitan area ; and as 

 these interests are associated with one of the largest and most 

 important enterprises of plant cultivation under glass carried on 

 in any part of the world, it is a matter of the greatest importance 

 that the circumstances connected with the chemical compositions 

 of these fogs, their origin and extent, the amount of sulphurous 

 acid contained in them, as well as the diminution of light caused 

 by them, should be carefully and exhaustively investigated. 



"2. This Society, being also of opinion that London fogs are 

 detrimental to public health, and are calculated to render London 

 an undesirable place of residence for many months of the year, as 

 they interfere with trade and public business, and cause serious 

 loss to the community generally, invites the co-operation and 

 support of kindred societies and all organisations interested in the 

 subject, in a representation to the London County Council to 

 institute an inquiry into the causes and circumstances of these 

 fogs, with the view of reducing their injurious character, or if 

 possible removing altogether the causes which have led up to 

 them." 



On the suggestion of the Scientific Committee, the Council 

 agreed to set apart one of the propagating pits at the Chiswick 

 Gardens for the purpose of carrying out experiments during the 

 current winter to mitigate the effects of fogs on cultivated plants. 

 It was also agreed to inform the Chiswick Board of this arrange- 

 ment, and to request the Superintendent to give what assistance 

 he could in carrying out the suggestions of the officers placed in 

 charge of the experiments. 



Dr. Eussell stated that he thought it would be of great im- 

 portance with regard to the fog question if a comparative and 

 simultaneous series of determinations of the amount of light could 

 be carried out at once, both in the City and outside London, in 

 order to thus obtain a more exact idea of the enormous loss of 

 light experienced in the City during the winter months. With 

 the object of familiarising himself with the method adopted by 

 the Manchester Committee, he was experimenting with their 

 process. 



Garden Labels. — Mr. Morris remarked on the difficulty of 

 finding any material suitable for labels. They had tried a great 

 variety at Kew, but the best, in being most durable, was a strip of 

 lead with the name stamped upon it. He exhibited a sample 



