Mr. Thomson's Analysis of Two species of Epiphytes. 11 



100 parts of the ashes again would contain approximately — 



Soluble Salts, 4272 4272 



"Silica, 843 



Insoluble, 59-10 



Peroxide and ) o tftft 

 Phos. of Iron, J 

 Alumina, or 

 Phosph. of Al., 

 Xarb. of Lime,.... 40-62 



.} 616 



101-82 10101 



II. Vanilla planifolia. — The following is the composition of a 

 specimen of tho Vanilla planifolia which I examined. Although 

 called an epiphyte, it had roots in some of the pots. It is a very 

 succulent plant, with a small round stem, and alternate petiolated, 

 elliptico-lancoolate, polished leaves : — 



Water, 89*06 



Organic Matter, 9*84 



Ashes, 1-10 



100-00 



The ashes were similar in composition to those of tho Commelina 

 Skinneri. They contained no alumina, and had a perceptible quantity 

 of phosphoric acid. 



Mr. Johnston, of Greenock, described his oxyhydrogen engine. 



18th December, 1844. — The President in the Chair. 



The following members were admitted : — Messrs. Laurence Hill, 

 jun., Thomas Watson, Alexander Wilson, and Oliver G. Adamson. 



Professor Balfour exhibited and described various drawings and 

 specimens of plants belonging to the Pandanaceae or screw-pine tribe. 



8th January, 1845. — The President in the Chair. 



The followiug members were admitted: — Dr. John A. Easton, 

 Messrs. James Miller, William Brown, Thomas G. Buchanan, George 

 S. Buchanan, and James Reid Stewart. Professor Gordon read a 

 paper on the Economy of using Steam expansively. The Secretary 

 was directed to acknowledge the following donations: — Dr. Watt's 

 Report on the Vital Statistics of Glasgow; Professor Forbes, of 

 Edinburgh, " On the Transparency of the Atmosphere, and the law 

 of Extinction of the solar rays in passing through it." 



