lxxxii 



from a live and apparently healthy tree, and that the ashes from 

 such wood (of which he exhibited samples), when made into lye 

 or soap, stained the clothes yellow. 



Dr. Engelmann thought the stain must be produced by a 

 mineral substance, and most probably by iron. 



Dr. Johnson said be believed that trees, like animals, had the 

 power of appropriating or of assimilating different substances. 



Dr. Engelmann objected to the term assimilate, and stated 

 that whenever plants do not elaborate their fluids by the ordinary 

 means, a simple mechanical mixture takes place. 



Mr. Mallinckrodt undertook to analyze the coloring material 

 of the wood presented. 



May 20, 1872. 



The President in the chair. 



Seventeen members present. 



The Committee on the Constitution made their report, and 

 were discharged. 



The amended Constitution, as reported, was then taken up, 

 discussed, and adopted by sections. 



The Committee on Publication reported that a sufficient num- 

 ber of papers had been referred to them, or were now being pre- 

 pared, to make a number of the Transactions of about 300 pages, 

 illustrated by some ten or twelve plates, and that they were ready 

 to commence printing as soon as the Academy should place the 

 necessary funds at their disposal. They found that the expense 

 of such a number would be from $1,600 to $2,000, according to 

 the number of copies printed. It was thought 1,100 or 1,200 

 copies would be enough. It was recommended that it should 

 contain the revised Constitution, an abstract of the history of the 

 Academy, and a complete list of members. It was further sug- 

 gested that a subscription paper should be circulated for sub- 

 set iptions in aid of the funds in the treasury. 



The report was accepted, and the matter of the size and number 

 of copies to be printed was left to the determination of the com- 

 mittee. 



On motion, Dr. C. E. Briggs and Mr. R. Hayes were added 

 to the Board of Curators. 



