136 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 



Mr. Meelian presented leaves of the Peach and Cherry, and said it had fallen 

 to him to point out that the leaf blades of plants were developed in propor- 

 tion as vigorous vitality was relaxed, and that they were adherent or decurrent 

 in proportion as vigor or vitality was thoroughly developed in the central 

 axis or stem. By following out the same line of observation he had dis- 

 covered the law which governed the production of sexes in plants, and he now 

 wished to call attention to the operation of the same cause in the production 

 of glands on the leaf stalks of the Peach and Cherry. 



A careful examination of a gland-bearing variety of either of these would 

 show that these glands were simj)ly germs of the cellular matter which formed 

 the leaf blade. They maj^ be seen in every stage of development from dense 

 full globes on the petioles to very small dots on the apex of the tolerably well 

 expanded matter, and it will be further seen that in proportion as vitality is 

 weak are these germs and glands developed. Leaves from the shaded center 

 of the tree, or from shoots weak or enfeebled from any other cause, produce 

 glandless leaves, while the stronger the shoot, the stronger and more numer- 

 ous are the glands or undeveloped parts. Remembering that these glands are 

 but undeveloped leaf blades, and that I have proved in former pages that jilants 

 develop these less freely in proportion to a vigorous axial or stem growth, it 

 should necessarily follow that a weakened vitality would be indicated by an 

 absence of glands. That this is so in the cases before us, these weak and 

 glandless leaves show. But I have had a very remarkable confirmation of this 

 by the observations of Peach groovers who have had no knowledge of these 

 recent physiological discoveries. Many varieties of Peaches have no glands, 

 and these have been found by the growers of southern Illinois, as I am in- 

 formed by Dr. Hull, of Alton, in all cases to be the first to succumb to diseases 

 or unfavorable circumstances. It is very seldom that the developments of 

 science, and untutored observation, go along together and so thoroughly 

 accord. To me it is one of the most interesting facts I have met with in sup- 

 port of my theory — that the degree of separation of the leaf-blade from the 

 main stems is wholly a question of vitality. 



Mr. Meehan exhibited some fibre obtained from Mr. Rcezel, of Vera Cruz, 

 which was fewer and stronger than that furnished by the "Ramie." Mr. 

 Eoezel obtained it from a plant which he had found in the Alleghani^s, and 

 which he believed to be a new species of Bathmeria. Mr. M. had, however, 

 since found it abundantly along the Missouri River, and it proves to be only 

 Urtica purpurascens, Nuttall. 



■ July 20fh. 



The President, Dr Hays, in the Chair. 



Tlie pnblication of the Proceedings for January, February and 

 March, was announced. 



July Tith. 



Dr. Ruschenberger, A^ice-President, in the Chair. 



Dr. Chas. L. Cassin, U. S. N., was elected a member. 

 On favorable report of the Committee, the following paper was 

 ordered to be printed ; 



[July 



