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ordinarily understood — for the reproduction of microscopical drawings. 

 Specimens of the transfer paper, and numerous prints executed by the 

 process, were exhibited in illustration of the subject, and were subse- 

 quently distributed amongst the members. 



Mr. J. G. Waller had seen the working of the process, as a friend of his 

 was in the habit of making all his drawings by it, and he could say from 

 knowledge that it would be found to answer the purpose in every respect. 



The Chairman said he could fully endorse the opinion of the reader of 

 the paper as to the great desirability of an observer illustrating his own 

 observations. Sir John Herschel used to say that an anatomical observa- 

 tion required not only a telescope and an object, but also an eye ; and the 

 paper they had jiist heard seemed to show that another thing was also 

 necessary, namely, a hand. 



Mr. Marcus M. Hartog read a paper " On the Investigation of Floral 

 Development," in the course of which he described the best method of dis- 

 secting and examining the subjects under observation, and gave many 

 valuable hints as to the most useful appliances for the purpose. 



The Chairman, in proposing a vote of thanks to Mr. Hartog, expressed 

 his sense of the value of the paper, which he thought was one of the kind 

 they so urgently needed, as being a description of new and useful modes of 

 investigation by simple means. He heartily commended the suggestions 

 which Mr. Hartog had made to the attention of the members. 



Mr. Gilburt said there was just one other "little dodge" which would be 

 found extremely useful, because it enabled fresh sections to be mounted at 

 once. Fresh sections of the " growing point " should be made and put into 

 alcohol for about ten minutes, after which they could be put into oil of 

 cloves and then into balsam. By this means the protoplasm was shrunk a 

 little from the cell wall — which was an advantage — and they could take 

 sections from the growing point to the extreme end, and preserve them 

 directly, and much better than by using glycerine ; the whole process could 

 be gone through in half an hour, and they got the sections well preserved 

 in what was practically their natural condition. Balsam in benzole should, 

 however, be used, as it worked better and was more suited to the purpose. 



Mr. Ingpen enquired if the lenses of the simple microscope recommended 

 by Mr. Hartog were single lenses or achromatic combinations ? 



Mr. Hartog said they were not achromatic, but the form was a doublet 

 which Chevalier had long adopted, consisting of two plano-convex lenses, 

 with a diaphragm between ; the lenses were of different sizes, the small 

 one being at the top, and both having their plane sides towards the object. 



Mr. Ingpen said this arrangement was the converse of the well-known 

 " Wollaston doublet," which had the larger lens above the smaller one^ 

 This combination was new to him, and he was much struck with the size 

 and flatness of the field it gave. The stand was certainly very well adapted 

 for the purpose of dissecting. 



The Chairman thought the stand was quite a model of firmness. He 

 asked if Mr. Hartog found much difficulty in holding the object during 

 dissection ? 



