37 
Dr. CORFE pointed out that plants disseminated between organic 
and inorganic manures ; and in the case of parasites, they were only 
found where degeneration of tissues had commenced. 
Mr. G. Scorr enquired how the appearance of plants on embank- 
ments and broken ground, without, so far as had been observed, 
previous sowing of seeds, could be explained, 
Mr. WoONFOR considered that the seeds were conveyed together 
with the earth, or brought: to the surface, and so were able to germi- 
nate. It was a well known fact that different seeds possessed different 
degrees of vitality, some germinating only after a few months, while 
some retained their vitality for centuries. 
A discussion was carried on for some time by Messrs. W. 
SAUNDERS, WONFOR, and HENNAH, on the greater vitality of weeds 
and seeds of the Northern or the Southern Hemisphere, the last named 
gentleman promising to make enquiries respecting the times of 
flowering and seeding of European plants introduced into New 
Zealand. 
Previous to the reading of the paper, a pleasing reminiscence of 
the Society’s Excursion in 1872, in the form of a painting representing - 
a scene on the Adur, was presented for the Society’s Album by Mr. 
O’Bryen Lomax. 
JANUARY 28TH. 
ORDINARY MEETING.—MR. je @ WARD, -F.G.S,,0N - 
_. THE OLD GLACIERS OF CUMBERLAND. 
The general characters of modern glaciers were as follows :— 
A glacier represented the snow drainage of a mountainous tract, 
and was a river of ice moving in all respects like an ordinary river, only 
much more slowly. It flowed faster at its centre than at its sides, and 
at its upper surface than at its lower ; it became troubled on rounding 
a curve, and broken up in falling over a precipitous part of its bed. 
The line of swiftest motion changed from side to side with the curva- 
ture of the valley, as in the case of a river ; and regelation constantly 
re-united the shattered portions on changing from a troubled to a 
smooth part of its course, 
Rocky fragments were for ever falling from the mountain sides 
upon the glacier, where they formed long lines of débris— /ateral 
