xlix 



take. As in other forests, it was after the old trees had fallen 

 down that there was room for the young ones to spring up. A 

 second species of this Californian genus, the redwood, attained 

 the size of twenty or twenty-five feet in diameter, and is very 

 important timber. Our ordinary forest-trees are probably very 

 few of them over two hundred years old. 



Dr. J. B.Johnson said he had examined the immense trees of 

 Calaveras County. After visiting them two or three times they 

 begin to grow upon you. He rode into the hollow of one a dis- 

 tance of ninety feet. 



Dr. Johnson mentioned the snow-plant or blood-flesh flower. 

 It was very peculiar in its character, and no one had been able 

 to propagate it. It has no green leaves. Placed in a box, it will 

 remain vigorous two or three weeks and then perish. 



Dr. Engelmann explained the impossibility of cultivating this 

 plant, the Sarcodes, from its being a parasite ; we have similar 

 parasites, but of a wax color, in our woods, the most common 

 and striking of which is Alonotropa unijlora. 



October 2, 187 1. 



The President in the chair. 



Ten members present. 



The Corresponding Secretary reported that the exchanges re- 

 ceived had been deposited in the Library. 



A communication from Dr. T. A. Cheney, of Leon, Cata- 

 raugus County, New York, dated September 18, 1S71, relating 

 to the recent discovery of Mastodon remains at Jamestown, New 

 York, and asking for missing numbers of the Transactions of the 

 Academy for the Georgic Library under his charge, was referred 

 to Dr. Wislizenus with instructions to return the proper answer. 



Mr. C. C. Whittelsey informed the Academy that a large num- 

 ber of geological specimens and fossils belonging to the Museum 

 were to be found at the Washington University, and that he had 

 in his possession a large meteorite, also saved from the fire ; and 

 Prof. Hager was appointed to take charge of them. 



Dr. Engelmann noticed the rnetereological characteristics of 

 the past summer : 



