Abstract
THE Botanical Society of Edinburgh numbers more than 500 members. Moreover, the Botanical Class of the University of Edinburgh is the largest in the three kingdoms; the number of pupils which attended it in the year 1874 was 354. We might reasonably expect, therefore, to find in the “Transactions ”of the Society some evidence of the existence, in an environment apparently so favourable, of a flourishing school of botanical investigation. After, however, examining the present number with some care, it is impossible to avoid feeling considerable disappointment. To speak the truth, a great part of its contents might have been sufficiently gratifying to those concerned if printed in some local periodical, but they are quite unworthy of that more formal and wider circulation which they necessarily aim at by their present mode of publication. The valedictory address of the president, Mr. J. ‘Nab, is mainly occupied with a discussion (but apart from any meteorological data) of the deterioration of the climate of Scotland, which it is well known he believes to have taken place. Amongst other facts which he adduces in support of it, is the present scarcity in Scotland of mushrooms ! He takes occasion to point out that though the British climate is unsuitable for many plants such as Rhododendron arboreum, their hybridised descendants are able to represent them in our gardens. It is, however, by no means certain that Bryanthus erectus is, as the president stated, a hybrid between Menziesia empetriformis and Rhodothamnus chamæcistus; on the contrary, it appears to be identical with a form of the former species.—Mr. A. S.Wilson continues his remarks on Lolium temulentum, the seeds of which have long been believed to be poisonous, and an exception to the general rule amongst grasses. The poisonous qualities of Lolium temulentum are attributed, no doubt correctly, to the ergot, with which it is often infected. After separating the ergotised grains, Mr. Wilson made cakes of darnel meal, which he ate without experiencing any ill effects. It is mentioned inter alia (p. 49) that the first Swedish turnips raised in Britain were grown at Perth, in 1772, from seed sent by Linnaeus. Rather unexpectedly in a botanical publication we come further on upon an account of a dredging expedition, headed by Prof. Carus, in Lamlash Bay.—Mr. J. F. Duthie gives a long account of botanical excursions near the Baths of Lucca; except as an extract from the journal of an ardent collecting botanist, it has no points of interest.
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The Edinburgh Botanical Society*. Nature 11, 311–312 (1875). https://doi.org/10.1038/011311a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/011311a0