466 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [1881. 



personally to supervise the contracts for building, and to inspect 

 the progress of the work almost daily. He was thus able to save 

 thousands of dollars to the Trustees, and to see the present build- 

 ing completed at a cost greatly within the original estimate. 

 Those onl}- who were associated with him in this the great achieve- 

 ment of his life, can rightly value the courage, patience, devotion, 

 indomitable perseverance and ceaseless activity displayed by him 

 throughout the entire period. 



As a presiding officer, both at the meetings of the Academy 

 and in the Council, his extreme punctuality, dignity of manner, 

 unfailing courtesy and accurate acquaintance with parliamentary 

 usage leading to prompt decisions, which seldom or never failed 

 to command support, have increased in no small degree the debt 

 of gratitude due him by the institution which he has served so 

 faithfully and well. 



Of his services to the scientific world this is not the time nor 

 the occasion to speak in detail, but suffice it to say, they are such 

 as have been long and widely recognized. 



In view of the foregoing recital of facts, we deem it everj^ way 

 fitting that the Academy should suitably express and place upon 

 record, its grateful sense of the long and faithful services of its 

 retiring President, and we accordingly propose the following 

 resolutions for its adoption : 



Resolved., That the thanks of this Academy be, and they are 

 hereby tendered to Dr. W. S. W. Ruschenberger for the eminent 

 services he has rendered both before and since he has held its 

 honored position of President. 



Resolved^ That this report, and these resolutions be entered in 

 full upon the minutes, and published in the Proceedings, and that 

 a copy thereof suitably engrossed, attested by the Vice-Presidents 

 and Secretaries of the Academy be presented to him. 



Isaac C. Martindale, 

 John H. Redfield, 

 S. Raymond Roberts, 

 Philadelphia, Dec. 20th, 1881. Committee. 



Varying Influence of Heat on Flotver-buds and Leaf-buds. — 

 Mr. Thomas Meehan referred to specimens of Cratsegus^ sent by 

 Mr. Case, of Indiana, on which the sender remarked that the buds 

 were larger through the winter on alternate years — and that the 

 plants flowered freely in the seasons corresponding with those 

 following the large buds. Mr. Meehan said, that though it must 



