PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 241 
fication—peculiar forms of pollen—mysterious cause of species— 
power of germ—absorbing power of roots—effects of destroying 
tibres of roots—increase of stems downwards—aincrease of roots up- 
wards. Roots in stems, leaves, &c. Law of nature in producing 
variety—variety how continued. Rule of growth from seed, con- 
trary by roots, bulbs, &c.-—power of roots in penetrating through 
dense clay, &c. Neglected valuable roots—stems changing into 
roots in autumn—changing annuals into biennials and perennials. 
Error of cropping perennial grasses in autumn—sap not descend- 
ing. Torpidity of roots according to temperature—why the 
absence of sap-supply—how to produce monster masses of shoots 
—transpiration of sap—valve of roots—a dozen different names 
for roots according to manner of growth, form, &c.—sceptical 
opinions with regard to roots and plants—Creator’s provision to 
perpetuate them against destruction—not the same provision for 
man and animals, being confined to seed, and by seed only can 
they continue their species. A leg, arm, finger, &c., can never 
produce or continue a similar creature. 
Witr1am Henpry, Hon. Sec, 
On Henpry’s Crystats. By Witt1amM Henpry, Esq., Secretary 
of the Hull Microphilosophical Society. 
(Read May 11th, 1863.) 
(ABSTRACT.) 
The author stated that four years since, in attempting to sub- 
stitute fusion by the blowpipe for cement, in fixing their glass 
covers to slides, he noticed masses of crystals produced in the 
covers after the treatment, and believing them to be unkown, he 
named them after himself. To obtain the crytals he heats a thin 
glass cover on a piece of mica, over a spirit-lamp, holding both 
with forceps ; then quickly turning them to the side of the flame, 
applies a blowpipe, withdrawing the cover to the apex of the 
flame for a few moments. An examination with a 1 or 3-inch ob- 
jective will then show the crystals. Similar results were observed 
in a thin glass slide, after a similar treatment, when examined 
with a+;th objective. Specimens were sent with the paper, and 
the author suggests that it would be desirable to ascertain the 
chemical nature of the crystals, whether a silicate of lead or 
soda, 
Boston Naturat History Socrery. 
Av a meeting of the above Society, March, 1864, Mr. C. Stodder 
exhibited a specimen of diatomaceous earth, with a slide of the 
same under the microscope. The specimen was from the land of 
