clxxvii 



Dr. Engelmann reported with regard to his recent study of 

 vines : 



American grape-vines are commonly said to be polygamous; he finds 

 flowers with both pistils and stamens, some of these with incomplete sta- 

 mens, but none devoid of the same. He deduces from this the theory that 

 the flowers are incompletely fertile, i.e. that fertilization of a flower by its 

 own pollen is not so good as fertilization by that of another flower. He 

 would therefore recommend the cultivation of a few sterile or pollen-bear- 

 ing vines of the proper species in each vineyard, thus following the plan 

 of nature, which furnishes a large number of staminate plants. We find 

 a similar state of things in regard to certain varieties of strawberries. 



The cultivated grape-vines in Europe have been propagated from slips 

 for so long a time that sterile plants are almost unknown ; but sterile 

 plants can be raised from the seed in European as well as American spe- 

 cies — a fact unknown to naturalists until recently. 



It was thought that the Taylor grape, one of the finest of our varieties, 

 now not very productive, could be much improved in this regard by the 

 process proposed. 



Mr. Todd mentioned the introduction of Arundel glass in spec- 

 tacles, the advantage of which he claimed to be that the tinge 

 of violet absorbed the heat-rays injurious to the eye. Dr. Engel- 

 mann doubted the fact that the heat from ordinary light was suf- 

 ficient to injure the eye or cause suffering. 



Prof. Broadhead presented specimens of quartz traversed by 

 capillary crystals of titanium oxide ; also crystals of zincblende 

 notable for their large size ; also the fossil Actinocrinites firo- 

 boscidiales. 



April 19, 1875. 

 Albert Todd, Vice President, in the chair. 



Ten members present. 



Mr. Riley being absent, Dr. S. Pollak was chosen Recording 

 Secretary pro tern. 



The Corresponding Secretary read several communications. 

 One of these, a paper on Intermittent Fever, by Mr. Amos Saw- 

 yer, of Hillsboro, Ills., was referred to Dr. Stevens. 



Dr. C. F. Tennant sent several teeth for the consideration of 

 the Society, and desired whatever information the members might 

 possess on the subject. It was surmised by several that they were 

 the teeth of some carnivorous animal. Dr. Stevens thought the 



