155 



detaching a portion of it. If a strip of cambric be attached to the 

 obstruction, it assumes the form of the upper surface, showing the 

 concavity of the lower directly opposite to the convexity of the 

 upper surface. 



On account of flush-boards on the dam, it has been necessary 

 to suspend for a time a series of experiments for determining the 

 manner in which buildings are affected by the vibrating sheet. 



Mr. Edward S. Rand, Jr., presented, through Mr. 

 Sprague, an account of his experiments with the Japan 

 wax-plant [Rhus succedaneum), 



A few seeds of this plant, received by his father, were sown in 

 the usual soil for seeds (peat, leaf mould, and silver sand,) and 

 placed on a sunny shelf in the greenhouse, where they were well 

 watered ; they were very slow in germinating, but at length came 

 up plentifully ; after some weeks they were potted oflf in small 

 pots, and have since grown quite vigorously. They are now 

 from two to six inches high ; the leaf is very different from that 

 of any of the family with which he is acquainted, resembling 

 more that of some of the new spireas ; as far as can be judged, 

 the plant will be one of great symmetry and beauty ; he hopes by 

 care to fruit it, and will then report further to the Society. 



In relation to orchids or air-plants, of which he has a fine col- 

 lection, he said that he had tried to preserve their magnificent 

 flowers in spirit, with the intention of making an extensive collec- 

 tion ; but in a few days or weeks the colors fade, or even dis- 

 appear, leaving nothing of beauty except the form of the flower. 

 He presented a flower of Acanthophippium bicolor, in which the 

 fresh colors are black, white, and yellow, changed to a uniform 

 white in spirit. He offered to preserve a large number of spe- 

 cies, if any liquid could be found which would not destroy the 

 colors. 



Mr. F. H. Storer remarked that a solution of glyce- 

 rine and water will preserve the colors of fishes, and he 

 believed would be equally efficacious in the case of plants. 



Mr. Sprague presented three specimens of the short or 

 trout-nosed pickerel, varying in length from 12 to 20 



