BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA. 
also one of the best to use during summer, and before it is ripe. To prepare it for 
the table it requires but a short time to cook, say about ten minutes; the green out- 
side shell of course being first taken off. Like all squashes it requires a rich soil 
and good culture to have it succeed well, and should be planted alone, so as not to 
mix with other varieties. I might here mention that the Hubbard Squash was first 
introduced by Mr. Gregory into Marblehead, Mass., more than forty years ago, but, 
from some cause, has been but little known beyond that locality, until within the 
last three or four years ; of late it has become the favourite squash with all who 
know it, and continues to maintain that high character it held when first introduced. 
In order to preserve the Hubbard, as well as other squashes, for winter use, it is 
necessary to gather them when ripe in the autumn, and place them in a dry room or 
carriage house until the first frost, after which they should be removed into a dry 
cellar, and there placed upon shelves where neither damp nor frost will affect them ; 
•with such care the Hubbard Squash will be good for use until May or June. 
Two fine specimens of the Hubbard Squash, exhibited to the meeting by Mr. 
Briggs, were referred to a Committee of ladies for a report on their qualities. 
WHAT TO OBSERVE IN CANADIAN LICHENS. 
By W. Lauder Lindsay, M. D., L. S., Hon. Mem.. Bot. Soc. Ca. 
An account was given of the importance of Lichens in the phenomena of nature 
and of their applications to the wants of man, in affoiding food, dyes and fodder. 
Specimens of many of the most valuable dye species were sliown, including Roccella 
tinctoria from Greece ; a series of Umbilicariae named by Leighton in accordance 
with his Monograph ; Sticta pulmonaria and dye prepared from it, from the woods 
around Kingston ; an interesting collection of Lichens made in the United States 
by Mr. A. 0. Brodie, of the Ceylon Civil Sei-vice ; and Tuckermann's published 
series of American specimens. The points brought before the Society by Dr. Lind- 
say were the following : 
1. There are no plants so variable in character as the lichens ; none in which 
it is consequently so difiicult to decide what are species and what are varieties. In 
order to a comprehensive knowledge of species, it is necessary to study individuals 
in every condition of growth and from every possible habitat. Hence the common- 
est species and varieties become of value — the more so if collected in countries com- 
paratively unexplored botanically, for lichens are no exception to the rule that geo- 
graphical differences are attended by corresponding differences in the characters of 
the same plants. Every Canadian collector of lichens — however common and well- 
known the latter may be — may therefore consider himself as contributing towards a 
more scientific and philosophical, because more comprehensive, knowledge of a very 
protean, but interesting, group of plants. 
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