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PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE. 
January 11, 1898. 
Mr. Michael, F.L.S., in the Chair, and four members present. 
Fungus on Beech. —A box of fungi was received from Lady- 
Cave, Cleve Hall, Downend, near Bristol. They were forwarded 
to Kew, whence it was reported that they were Plerotus ostrea- 
tus, Jacq., “ one of the best and safest of edible fungi.” The 
specimens were taken from a very old Beech in the gardens of 
Cleve Hall. They were growing on the wood about twelve feet 
from the ground. 
Scientific Committee, February 9, 1898. 
Dr. M. T. Masters in the Chair, and ten members present. 
Evolution Committee of the Boyal Society .—Mr. Bateson, 
one of a deputation to the Society from the Royal Society, 
called attention to the existence of the Evolution Committee of 
the Royal Society, the object of which is to promote accurate 
observations of facts relating to variation, heredity, selection, 
and other phenomena connected with the evolution of plants 
and animals. 
Earlier in the afternoon Dr. Masters and Mr. Bateson had 
attended the Meeting of the Council, and having explained their 
wishes, and laid the following document on the Council table, 
had received assurance of hearty co-operation, which the Council 
considered could be best rendered through the medium of the 
Scientific Committee. 
Evolution Committee of the Boyal Society. —A Com¬ 
mittee has been appointed by the Council of the Royal 
Society to promote accurate investigations of facts relating 
to variation, heredity, selection, and other phenomena con¬ 
nected with the evolution of plants and animals. Those 
who are engaged either in breeding the various races of 
domesticated animals, or in raising plants by cross-breeding 
or otherwise, have exceptionally good opportunities of mak¬ 
ing observations on the above subjects. In the course of 
their business attention is necessarily directed to the effects 
