HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
the spiral bodies into the so-called ovules ; and M. Schacht further avers that in the young stages of 
the " ovules," at which stage Suminski states the fertilization takes place, the cavity is closed up. 
The evidence, therefore, is at present against Count Suminski's views, yet I am inclined to think 
that the point is by no means decided ; and, at all events, the import of the remarkable structures 
remains to be cleared up. The first leaf emerges from the substance of the cellular thickening of the 
germinal frond, which is carried up a little way in a kind of sheath. The " ovule " or several, may 
often be seen attached to the side of this sheathing process of tissue. It is the opinion of Count 
Suminski that the first leaf is developed from the minute cell which, he says, lies at the bottom of the 
" ovule," just as the embryo is in the embryo sac of a phanerogamous ovule ; but, if this were the case, 
there would be the striking difference that the embryo bursts through the coats of the ovule at the side, 
the radical extremity not pointing to the canal where the fertilizing influence enters, as in the flowering 
plants. The second leaf of the young plants is developed in the axil of the first, and so on, the little 
Marchantia-like germinal frond soon decaying away. 
DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES. . 
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Successive stages of development from the spore (Fig. 1). In Fig. 5 are seen two of the antheridia. 
6. A germinal frond (it is a simple cellular plate like the leaf of a Moss) : a are two " ovules ;" b a number of 
' antheridia ;" c root fibrils. 
7. A more highly magnified view of a piece of the frond, with two " antheridia," one containing the vesicles 
(b), the other burst (d). 
8. Side view of b in the last figure. 
9. The same bursting to discharge the vesicles, which again discharge the spiral filaments e. 
10. One of the spiral filaments or " animalcules " more magnified. 
11. Side view of an " ovule." 
12. The summit of the same, seen from above. 
13. Side view of an " ovule " from Suminski, representing the embryo-cell at the bottom of the cavity. 
14. 15, 16. Germinating Ferns, with the young leaves springing up from the germinal frond. 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
January 14. — The most remarkable object on this occasion presented to the meeting, and for 
which a large silver medal was awarded, was a cut specimen of Amherstia nobilis, from the garden of 
Mrs. Lawrence of Ealing Park, where only in this country this noble Indian free has been made to 
produce its flowers. This free was originally found by Dr. Wallich growing in the garden of a 
monastery at Kogun, on the Saluen river, and was subsequently met with by the late Mr. Griffith in 
the forests of Martaban, in the Birman empire. The fine pinnated foliage of this tree, together with 
the gaily coloured and curiously formed blossoms, in which a charming deep salmon-pink is predominant, 
render it indeed worthy the name of " nobilis." The singular form of the caesalpineous flowers is 
rendered still more remai'kable by the presence of a pair of large salnion-eoloured bracts at the base of 
the corolla, and at first sight appearing as if forming part of it. Now that a blooming habit has been 
induced in the plant at Ealing Park, it may he expected to bloom annually. Mr. Loddiges of Hackney 
sent a plant of the rare Ansellia africana from Fernando Po, — remarkable, among other things, as being 
one of the few orchids which grow naturally on the stems of Palm frees ! the Ansellia occurred on that 
of the Elais. From Mr. Beck of Isleworth were three specimens of Oncidium. and a group of Cinerarias, 
sent with the view of showing that neat blooming plants of this favourite flower maybe had by sowing 
the seeds about May. From a May sowing Mr. Beck had raised plants blooming since November. 
Several flowering plants were sent from the Society's garden. Mr. Davis of Oakhill contributed a fine 
basket of West's St. Peter's Grape ; and samples of the Rose-girdle were sent by the inventor, Captain 
Armstrong, of Cobham, Surrey ; they consist of a band of zinc, the ends of which are fastened by a nut 
and screw, and are intended to serve both as a fastening for standard plants, such as roses, and as a 
label on which the names may be inscribed ; being neat, if they prove to be durable, about which we 
have some misgivings, they will, no doubt, be extensively used in highly kept gardens. Some fruit of 
Hubbard's Pearmain, a hardy, prolific, and richly-flavoured Apple, worthy of general cultivation ; and 
of the Easter Beurre, and Beurre Ranz Pears, were sent from the garden of the Society. 
