POPULAR MISCELLANY. 



381 



illustrations of the supposed necessity of 

 insect fertilization. In one plant experi- 

 mented with in this way (Bapiisia), seeds 

 were not formed. This plant, in the author's 

 opinion, may possibly require insect agency 

 for its fertilization. He does not deny that 

 flowers are sometimes fertilized by the aid 

 of insects ; but he does not admit that this 

 mode of fertilization is very common. His 

 conclusions may be stated as follows: 1. 

 That cross-fertilization by insect agency 

 does not exist nearly to the extent claimed 

 for it ; 2. That, where it does exist, there is 

 no evidence that it is of any material bene- 

 fit to the race, but contrariwise ; 3. That 

 difficulties in self-fertilization result from 

 physiological disturbances that have no 

 relation to the general welfare of plants as 

 species. 



Proposed {international Geological Con- 

 gress. A committee appointed by the 

 American Association has issued a circular 

 addressed to geologists, announcing the 

 proposed convocation of an International 

 Geological Congress, to be held at Paris 

 some time during the Exposition of 1878. 

 It is proposed to make the Congress an 

 occasion for considering many disputed 

 points in geology, and to this end it is de- 

 sirable that the Geological Department of 

 the Exhibition should embrace 1. Collec- 

 tions of crystalline rocks, both crystalline 

 schists and massive or eruptive rocks, in- 

 cluding the so-called contact - formations 

 and the results of the local alteration of un- 

 crystalline sediments by eruptive masses. 

 In this connection are to be desired all ex- 

 amples of organic remains found in crystal- 

 line rocks, including Eozoon and related 

 forms. These collections should, moreover, 

 comprehend all rare and unusual rocks of 

 special lithological, mineralogical, and chem- 

 ical interest, examples of ore-deposits and 

 of vein-stones of all kinds, with their in- 

 casing rocks. As far as possible these col- 

 lections should be limited to specimens of a 

 size convenient for examination, and be ac- 

 companied with sections prepared for mi- 

 croscopic study. 



2. Collections illustrating the fauna and 

 the flora of the Palaeozoic and more recent 

 periods, particularly of such horizons as pre- 

 sent a more critical interest to paleontolo- 



gists from the first appearance or the dis- 

 appearance of important groups of organic 

 forms. It has appeared to the committee 

 that the organic remains of the Cambrian, 

 Taconic, or so-called Primordial strata merit 

 especial attention in this connection. 



These various collections should be ex- 

 plained as fully as possible by labels, cata- 

 logues, monographs, and maps. 



3. Collections of geological maps, and 

 also of sections and models, especially such 

 as serve to illustrate the laws of mountain- 

 structure. In the geological maps, regard 

 should be had to various questions which 

 deserve the special consideration of the 

 Congress, such as the scales best adapted 

 for different purposes, the colors and sym- 

 bols to be used, and the proper mode of 

 representing superficial deposits conjointly 

 with the underlying formations. The sec- 

 retary of the committee is Dr. T. Sterry 

 Hunt, of Boston. 



Comparative Dietetic Valne of Meat and 

 Eggs. A writer in the Scientific Farmer 

 estimates the food-value of one pound of 

 eggs as a producer of force, i. e., the amount 

 of work the pound oxidized in the body is 

 theoretically capable of producing, at 1,584 

 foot-tons, and the value of one pound of 

 lean beef, from the same point of view, at 

 990 foot-tons. As a flesh-producer, one 

 pound of eggs is about equal to one pound 

 of beef, as is shown by the following analy- 

 sis quoted by the author : 



ONE POUND OF EGGS. 



Water 12 oz., 36 grs. 



A Ibumen 2 oz. 



Extractive 130 grs. 



Oil or fat 1 oz., 214 grs. 



Ash 28 grs. 



Will produce at the maximum 2 oz. of dry muscle 

 or flesh. 



ONE POUND OF BEEF. 



Water 8 oz. 



Fibrine and albumen 1 oz., 122 grs. 



Gelatine 1 oz., 62 grs. 



Fat 4 oz., 340 grs. 



Mineral 350 grs. 



The author hereupon remarks as fol- 

 lows : 



" A hen may be calculated to consume 1 

 bushel of corn yearly, and to lay 12 dozen or 

 18 pounds of eggs. This is equivalent to 

 saying that 3.1 pounds of corn will produce, 

 when fed to this hen, 1 pound of eggs. A 



