Page:Journal of botany, British and foreign, Volume 9 (1871).djvu/309

 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 285

tive, raiifjinii- tliroui^li lins, jrreensand, and chalk, with the usual capping of basalt, which also bursts through the sedimentary rocks in the form of dykes. On the debris of the qunrries two rare plants were found, viz. Lithospermuiii officinale and Orobanchf rubra, the latter on the roots of the wild Thyme {Thy m us Serpyllum^. Those present had a good opportunity of verifying the fact, as the plants were easily dug out of the loose debris and the connection observed. In the Deer Park, not far from the quarries, is the only Irish habitat for the Musk Moschatel {Arh.vri mosclia- tellinn). It grows here in small quantity, and completely hidden under large blocks of stone. It has been known in this station for forty years at least, and is evidently quite wild, there not being a trace of any intro- duced plants in the Park, save the trees so recently planted. It hnd been announced that at this excursion the habitat of a rare Fern would be indicated, and a special prize was ottered by one of the members for the first specimen discovered, one of the conditions being that none of the plants were to be removed. Accordingly, on leaving the quarries the party were taken higher up the hill, and the field was pointed out in which the Moonwort (^Botrychium Lvnariu) grows very sparinglv. This rare little fern only grows to a heighl of two to four inches, ancl is usually hidden by the Grass and other larger plants ; consequently the contest was a pretty severe test of keenness of sight and powers of observation. In a short time the rain commenced agnin to pour down in torrents, accom- panied with thunder and lightning, so that the search had to be continued under shelter of umbrellas. Ultimately Mr. F. A. Lockwood was declared the winner, and the prize (Seemaini's ' British Ferns at One View ') was handed to him by the chairman of the day, Rev. George Robinson, A.M. The Adder's-tongue Fern was plentiful in the same field, and also the Yellow-oat Grass {JFrisetum Jlavescens). Specimens were also collected here of the Frog Orchis {Habenaria viridls) and of the greater Butterfly Orchis {H. cJilorrinthn) . The party now pursued their course to the summit of the mountain, visiting the well-known MacArt's Fort and the caves. A rare species of Hawkweed, Ilieracium anglicum, was found plentifully on the cliffs, as also the Red-broom Rape, already noticed. The Filmy Fern {HyinenrxfihyUnni.) is said to have been found on this part of the hill, but time did not allow of any search for it.

��Chemico-Aqricultural Society of Ulster. — June 16///. — Thomas Baldwin, Esq., Superintendent of the Agricultural Department of National P](lucation, made an oral communication on " The Culture of Suirar Beet in Ireland." From what he had seen in France, Germany, and Belgium, he believed that in Ireland there were 6,000,(J0 acres suitable tor its growth in the regular rotations so far, at least, as soil was concerned. The beet, however, might contain n large proportion of sac- charine matter, and yet not be very profitable for nuuuifncturing purposes ; for, if it contained too nuieh saline matter, the saccliarine matter would be prevented from crystallizing. He took a great deal of pains to C9m- pare the climate of Iklgium with that of Ireland. He compared the returns of the rainfall and temperature obtained in Brussels witii those of Dublin for ten years, and lie found that in the summer season the average temperature of Brussels was about two degrees higher than that of Dub- lin ; while the average winter temperature of Dublin was two degrees

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