Ixvin PROCEEDINGS. 



air for a continuation of the processes of the furnace is in succession drawn. 

 The intense heat thus obtainable would have rendered possible the fusion of even 

 the malleable iron, but in the progress of experimenting it was found that with 

 this furnace a charge of metal could be kept in a state of fusion while tests of the 

 constitution of its charge were being made, and the correct or desired result 

 having been thus reached, the whole charge could then be drawn off into ingots 

 to be shaped into the desired shapes as required. This, with tiie further improve- 

 ments in the method of Bessemer, principally the invention of Mr. Mushet, 

 whereby the charge was suitably mixed with a certain kind of steely ore, very 

 soon solved the problem of how to produce a homogenous iron, and the result is- 

 that today metal of the iron family can be obtained of every conceivable quality 

 and capable of supplying the needs of the most exacting purposes. 



The value of this feature of homogeneity is one which it is scarcely possible to 

 over estimate, and, having arrived at this most satisfactory stage of the history 

 of the iron manufacture, we are now enabled to solve problems in the application 

 of the metal to various uses, and the production of articles from it in ways that 

 up to a comparatively recent period, would have been simply impossible." 



Sixth Ordivaky Meeting, Church of England Institute, Halifax, 

 9th April, 1S94. 



The President in (he Chair. 

 Inter alia, 

 A paper was read by Dr. D. A. Campbell, entitled : " General Considerations 

 concerning Bacteria, with Notes on the Bacteriological Analysis of Water." 



Seventh Ordinary Meeting, Province Building, Halifax, 14th May, 1894. 



The President in (he Chair. 



In(er alia, 



The following papers were read : — 



"Notice of a New Test for Antipyrine," by the President, Professor G. 

 Lawson, Ll. D. 



" Phenological Observations made at several Stations in Nova Scotia and New 

 Brunswick during the year 1893," compiled by A. H. McKay, Ll. D., Halifax. 



" Note on a Sponge from Herring Cove," by J. Somers, M. D. 



"Notes on Nova Scotia Zoology, No. 3," by Harry Piers. 



The following papers were read by title : — 



" Notes on a Collection of Silurian Fossils from Cape George, .^ntigonish Co., 

 N. S. , with descriptions of three new species," by Henry M. Ami, D. Sc, F. G. S. 



" Notes on Sedimentary Formations on the Bay of Fundy Coast," by R. W. 

 Ells, Ll. D., Ac. 



"Additions to the Flora of Truro," by Percy J. Smith. 



" Deep Mining in Nova Scotia," by W. H. Prest. 



A. McKAY, Recordiinj Secretary. 

 Halifax, 19th May, 1S94. 



