liv Proceedings of the Botanical Society of 



and distribution of the evergreen vegetation, within a few 

 miles of the city, greatly resembled that seen in the West 

 Indian Islands generally. On the south side of the town 

 of Hayti, the hills retreated from the coast line and a 

 xerophytic type of vegetation largely predominated, the 

 genus Andropogon being especially abundant and typical. 

 A great variety of native and introduced fruit-bearing trees 

 was met with everywhere. 



Mrs. E. J. Bartol then gave "Views on the Vegetation 

 of Jamaica," as gathered from her recent visit, and exhibited 

 water-color drawings which she had made of several char- 

 acteristic indigenous plants. 



A letter was read from the Society's Treasurer, Mr. R. C. 

 Banes, at that time visiting the Island of Jamaica. He 

 stated that he had secured a large collection of filmy ferns 

 for the University collection, and that the fern vegetation 

 of the island in general was remarkably rich, especiall)' 

 along the Jim Crow range of mountains. 



Dr. Henry Leffmann then gave "A Note on the Compos- 

 ition of the Banana Fruit." He said that great uncertainty 

 and diversity of opinion existed as to the actual constituents 

 of this fruit. From a study recently made he found that it 

 contained a considerable amount of dextrose sugar of the 

 glucose type. Starch was also present in quantity, but the 

 amount of nitrogenous matter was relatively small. There 

 was a large proportion of water and a moderate amount of 

 mucilage. Mrs. S. T. Rorer stated that bananas in which 

 the skin was becoming brown were sweeter and more easily 

 digested than the semi-green or even yellow ones ordi- 

 narily seen in the markets. This was probably due to the 

 conversion of a considerable amount of starch into sugar 

 during the later stages of ripening. 



Dr. Macfarlane drew attention to a collection of two hun- 

 dred and fifty moss slides recently received by the Botanical 

 Department from Mrs. Josephine D. Lowe. He then showed 

 a photograph of John Bartram which had been secured as 



