22 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY 



be interesting to determine by raising plants from the different 

 grains of one ear, guarding them carefully against all extra- 

 neous pollen, and noting the character of the resulting grain. 



Dr. A. A. Hayes said the fact had been determined by 

 direct experiment ten or twelve years ago, when the question 

 arose whether the same stalk would furnish to each variety 

 upon it its normal quantity of phosphates. It was found that 

 this was the case, and each variety was reproduced the next 

 year from the seed thus raised. At that time he found that 

 all the varieties contain a salt of the peroxide of iron, instead 

 of the protoxide. 



Professor W. B. Rogers, referring to the discussion at the 

 previous meeting on the noxious influence of various gases, 

 particularly of carbonic acid and oxide, said, that, although all 

 the recent Continental writers concur in regarding carbonic 

 acid as simply negative in its influence, he had been surprised 

 to find that the most recent English authorities still charge 

 the whole of the pernicious effects of the inhalation of the 

 fumes of burning charcoal to this gas, rather than to the oxide. 



Dr. W. F. Channing thought that one source of the injury 

 from breathing impure air was the interruption to the process 

 of endosmose and exosmose, which it was well known was 

 produced by even a slight admixture of carbonic acid. 



Professor Rogers suggested that in crowded rooms organic 

 compounds have a good deal to do with the deterioration of 

 the air. 



Four Iiuudred and forty-uiutli meeting. 



March 9, 1858. — Monthly Meeting. 



The Academy met at the house of the Hon. Josiah Quincy. 



The President in the chair. 



The Corresponding Secretary read a letter from Sir John 

 Herschel, acknowledging the donation of the Academy's 

 Transactions; also one from Mr. Henry T. Parker, offering 

 his services as agent for the purchase of books for the Acad- 

 emy in England. 



