'November i^ili, /p/6.] PROCEEDINGS. vii 



Mr. Jonathan Barnes, F.G.S., made a short communica- 

 tion on the amounts of sugar and starch in bananas. The 

 fruit of Musa paradisuva (banana) when in green or unripe 

 condition contains only a small amount of glucose, but has an 

 abundance of starch. The fruit in the green state has an un- 

 pleasant bitter taste, and is hard. During the process of ripen- 

 ing, which goes on after the fruit has been removed from the 

 trees, the starch becomes changed into sugar. The analyses 

 given below show the changes Vv'hich took place during six 

 weeks. On the 3rd of August, 1916, six pieces of fruit in a 

 very green state were obtained, an estimation of the amount 

 of sugar was made, this estimation was repeated at intervals 

 of a week. At the end of the sixth week the fruit was com- 

 pletely ripe, the whole of the starch having changed into 

 glucose. 



Aug. 3rd, 0.72% glucose, 17-315?/. starch. 

 ,, loth, 1.76% „ 10.463% „ 



,, 17th, 2.18% „ 6.811% „ 



,, 24th, 7.60% „ 1.445% „ 



,, 31st, 11.29% ., 1-029% „ 



Sept. 7th. 18.21% „ absent 



The unripe fruit is very acid, whilst the fully ij[)cnLd is 

 only slightly acid. 



Mr. Barnes also exhibited some specimens illustrating the 

 results of pressure on peat. 



A short communication was made by Dr. WILLIAM CRAMP, 

 on the breaking of glass tubes. 



It has been frequently noticed by engineers that a boiler 

 gauge glass which has been in use, and is then cleaned by 

 pushing waste through it on the end of a wire is very liable 

 to break on being put to work again. Further experience seems 

 to show that this is only the case if the wire has in the clean- 

 ing process touched the glass; and that if the waste be drawn 

 through by means of a string subsequent breakage seldom 

 occurs. The breakage which takes place is very marked, the 

 tube often being shattered ; and it does not seem to matter 

 whether steel or copper wire is used. Scratching of the glass 

 by the wire seems insufficient to account for the effect, and 

 no adequate explanation has as yet been put forward. 



Dr. F. E. Bradley, M.A., F.R.S.E., communicated a note 

 on the presence of arsenic in various forms of food. 



Dr. J. Stuart Thomson, M.Sc, F.R.S.E., read a paper 

 entitled "The Gorgonacea of the Cape of Good Hope. " 



This paper is printed in thi- Memoirs. 



Professor Y . E. WEISS, D.Sc, F.L.S., read a paper entitled 

 "The Manufacture of Manure from Peat.' 



