584 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



In a fourth paper, also by Professor Storer, on the agricult- 

 ural value of the ashes of anthracite, the question whether 

 the ashes of hard coal have any fertilizing power is discussed, 

 with the result of the assurance that no general answer can 

 be made to the question whether they possess any more fer- 

 tilizing power than glacial sand forming the beds found in 

 the interior of the country, this consisting, as it does, of 

 crushed rock and mineral matters not thoroughly washed 

 out. Frequent experiments showed this sand to possess un- 

 expected fertilizing qualities, whereas nothing of this quality 

 has been detected in the sands of the sea-shore, from which all 

 fertilizing elements would naturally be washed out in time. 



THE " TOEEEY MEMORIAL CABINET." 



During his lifetime, Dr. Torrey, the eminent mineralogist 

 and botanist, lately deceased, and for many years United 

 States Assayer in New York, took special pains to collect a 

 cabinet of American ores and minerals, which embraced a 

 large number of very valuable specimens, and was given by 

 him to his son, H. Gray Torrey, who succeeded him in his 

 office. 



Mr. Torrey has lately presented this collection to the gov- 

 ernment, which has authorized the erection of suitable cases 

 in the Assay Office, and bearing the name of the " Torrey Me- 

 morial Cabinet." He proposes to extend the collection as far 

 as possible in the same direction, and invites contributions 

 from those who have any specimens of the kind to spare, 

 either as an absolute donation, or as an exchange for such 

 duplicates as he may have it in his power to furnish. 



The collection being thus a public one, and placed where 

 it will be of very great service in determining the character 

 of ores brought in for examination, it is to be hoped that the 

 invitation of Mr. Torrey will meet a hearty response, and the 

 collection be greatly enlarged. 



" DIRECTORY ' OF THE TORREY BOTANICAL CLUB. 



The Torrey Botanical Club of New York has issued a "Bo- 

 tanical Directory " for North America and the West Indies, 

 founded upon one of similar character published some years 

 ago by the Essex Institute of Salem. This embraces the 

 names of all persons in America known to the club as inter- 



