ii6 Proceedings of tlie Botanical Society of 



sessed an abundant mycorhizal growth as in Bartonia 

 tcnella. 



Miss Elizabeth Woolman exhibited and described a pecuhar 

 growth resembling paper received from a trout pond at 

 Dixville Notch, N. Y., and which Dr. Macfarlane had deter- 

 mined to be a felted mass of threads belongincr to the Al^a 

 CEdogoniinn. Dr. Harshberger stated that he had been given 

 a similar specimen from Honeybrook, Pa. Amongst the 

 threads were, however, deposits of gypsum. 



Interesting exhibits of orchid plants in flower were made by 

 Mr. Le Boutillier. 



February iS. Dr. Miller in the chair. Dr. Charles Nassau 

 gave a paper on " Bacteria in Relation to Sterilization." The 

 growth of Bacteria under varying environmental conditions 

 was described, and agents for inhibiting or preventing their 

 growth, as well as methods of filtration were discussed. 



Dr. M. P. Ravenel spoke on " The Relation of Bacteria to 

 Disease," and after rapidly tracing the development of the germ 

 theory he referred to several recent important discoveries on 

 the subjectof the Diphtheritic, Tetanus and Typhoid organisms. 



Rich exhibits of flowering specimens were made by Mr. Le 

 Boutillier, and from the conservatories of Mr. Dissel and the 

 University. 



March ./. Dr. Miller in the chair. Dr. Harshberger gave 

 " Notes on Tuckahoe and Similar Fungi " with exhibition of a 

 specimen from Mr. Talcott Williams. 



Dr. J. Takamine then addressed the society on " The Fer- 

 ment Taka Diastase." In order to obtain commercial supplies 

 spores of Eurotiuni Oryza: are sown on wheat bran, and in 

 about fifty hours the production of the diastase has reached 

 its maximum. Methods are then adopted for its purification, 

 when one part of the ferment will digest one hundred times its 

 weight of starch in ten minutes. Demonstrations were given 

 of the powerful and rapid action of the ferment, and on motion 

 of Professor Macfarlane a very cordial vote of thanks was 

 awarded the speaker for his address. 



