liii 



as practicable and in accordance with the plan recommended by 

 the committee. 



Mr. A. D. Hager presented in the name of Messrs. Belt & 

 Kive a valuable collection of minerals from this State, which had 

 been on exhibition at the recent fair. 



Dr. Engelmann exhibited several Aroid plants grown in the 

 hot-house of Shaw's Botanical Garden. The Aroid is a tropical 

 family of plants, and in the tropics they grow to enormous dimen- 

 sions, and often have a climbing habit. The species which occur 

 in this latitude are several species of Arum or India turnip and 

 Acorus calamus, the well-known aromatic calamus root. A beau- 

 tifully variegated leaf of another Aroid of the same genus (Calla- 

 dium) was also shown. 



On motion of Mr. Riley, the Corresponding Secretary was in- 

 structed officially to inform the Board of Public Schools of the 

 acceptance of their proposition in relation to the Cabinet, and 

 to returna them the thanks of the Academy. 



Mr. Andrew A. Blair was elected an associate member. 



December 4, 1871. 



The President in the chair. 

 Nine members present. 

 Mr. Wm. N. Belt was elected an associate member. 



December 18, 1871. 

 Dr. Engelmann in the chair. 



Thirteen members present. 



Dr. C. E. Briggs stated that in Brooklyn, N. Y., when the trees 

 were destroyed by the measuring-worm, they were replaced by 

 the Ailanthus, which succeeded admirably. 



In answer 'O inquiries, Dr. Engelmann said he did not think 

 the Ailanthus was poisonous, though an unpleasant odor was 

 exhaled by the male flowers, and by the leaves when bruised. 



Mr. C V. Riley said he had never been more favorably im- 

 pressed with the Ailanthus than while passing through the cities 

 of New York and Brooklyn last summer. It was wonderfully 



