4 Transactions of the 



Prof. Wood proposes to name these plants after their discoverer as a 

 recognition of his long and unrewarded service in this department of science. 

 Prof. Carruth has also discovered some undetermined plants Avhich may 

 prove to be new to science. Other members of the Academy have been 

 laboring faithfully in their respective dejDartments, the fruits of which 

 appeared abundantly at the annual meeting. 



The need of a more thorough scientific survey of the State is being felt 

 in various ways by the peoj^le. The State, for example, possesses the most 

 ample water-powers along its numerous streams for manufacturing purposes. 

 Could these be determined by a comp stent engineer, and utilized, it would 

 result in an immense annual saving to the State. Science thus applied to 

 the practical affairs of life yields rich returns to any people. 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY 



"The sixth annual meeting of the Society was held in the University build- 

 ing, at Lawrence, on September 8th and 9th, 1873, and was largely attended 

 by the scientific men of the State. The papers read before the Society were 

 of unusual merit, and the proceedings elicited a very general discussion in 

 the public journals. There was such a pressure of papers and business before 

 the Society, that the President suggested the necessity of resolving it into 

 sections, as is customary in larger scientific associations, so that all the papers 

 presented could be read. 



The following transactions of the Society are of public interest: 



The subject of auxiliary societies was introduced, discussed and approved, 

 and a committee, composed of F. H. Snow, B. F. Mudge and F. E. Stimpson, 

 was appointed on the same. The Topeka Scientific Institute was admitted 

 as an auxiliary society. 



The attention of the Society was called to the subject of standard weights 

 and measures for Kansas, and the following resolution was adopted : 



"Resolved, Tliat a committee of three be appointed to consider the question of standard 

 weights and measures for the State, and to report some recommendations to the Legisla- 

 ture of the State during the next session— reporting as a committee of this Academy, 

 F. "\V. Bardwell, F. E. Stimpson, and Robert J. Brown." 



The following papers were read : 



On the Action of Lime on Soils, by Miss Jennie Detmers. 



On traces of the Mound Builders in Kansas, by B. F. Mudge. 



On the Meteors between the sixth and the thirteenth of August, by John 

 Fraser. 



On Tornadoes, by John D. Parker. 



On the Composition of Comets' Tails, by F. W. Bardwell. 



On our Public Works, by William Tweeddale. 



