TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 103 



The other flowers subsequently produced have gone through the same stages as 

 the one now described ; in all six flowers have been produced, and two buds are 

 now nearly ready to expand — one of which will probably be in full blow to-morrow 

 (Tuesday), and will be followed by others during the present week. 



The first cultivators of the plant in England believed that it required a great 

 amount of light ; but the success which has attended it in the Crystal Palace at 

 Sydenham has shown that it is capable of very successful cultivation even where 

 shaded by palms and at a great distance from the glass. This circumstance has led 

 to the belief that shading is in fact desirable ; but I have hitherto treated the plant 

 in such a manner as to secure as much light as possible, and have no reason to 

 complain of the result. 



The growth of confervaceous plants proves detrimental to the Victoria, and care 

 has been taken throughout to keep down such weeds. 



In the same tank with the Victoria there are a few aquatic plants, such as the 

 Pontederia crassipes, Pistia stratiotes, and Nymphcea Devoniensis, N. deniata, N. cce- 

 rulea, and other kinds. 



On the Injlicence of Light on the Germination of Plants. By Dr. Daubeny. 



Oti the Hancornia speciosa, Artificial Gutta Percha and India Rubber. 

 By the Chevalier De Claussen. 



In the course of my travels as botanist in South America, I had occasion to 

 examine the different trees which produce the india-rubber, and of which the Han- 

 cornia speciosa is one. It grows on the high plateaux of South America, between 

 the tenth and twentieth degrees of latitude south, at a height from three to five 

 thousand feet above the level of the sea. It is of the family of the Sapotaceae, the 

 same to which belongs the tree which produces gutta percha. It bears a fruit, in 

 form not unlike a bergamot pear, and full of a milky juice, which is Uquid india- 

 rubber. To be eatable, this fruit must be kept two or three weeks after being 

 gathered, in which time all the india-rubber disappears or is converted into sugar, 

 and is then in taste one of the most delicious fruits known, and regarded by the 

 Brazilians (who call it Mangava) as superior to all other fruits of their country. 

 The change of india-rubber into sugar led me to suppose that gutta percha, india- 

 rubber, and similar compounds contained starch. I have therefore tried to mix it 

 with resinous or oily substances, in combination with tannin, and have succeeded in 

 making compounds whicli can be mixed in all proportions with gutta percha or india- 

 rubber without altering their characters. By the foregoing it will be understood 

 that a great number of compounds of the gutta percha and india-rubber class may 

 be formed by mixing starch, gluten, or flour with tannin and resinous or oil)'' sub- 

 stances. By mixing some of these compounds with gutta percha or india-rubber, I 

 can so increase its hardness, that it will be Hke horn, and may be used as shields to 

 protect the soldiers from the effect of the Minie balls ; and I have also no doubt that 

 some of these compounds, in combination with iron, may be useful in floating bat- 

 teries and many other purposes, such as the covering the electric telegraph wires, 

 imitation of wood, ship-building, &c. 



On the Employment of Algce and other Plants in the Manufacture of Soaps. 

 By the Chevalier De Claussen. 



When 1 was experimenting on several plants for the purpose of discovering fibres 

 for paper pulp, I accidentally treated some common sea-weeds with alkalies, and 

 found they were entirely dissolved, and formed a soapy compound which could be 

 employed in the manufacture of soap. The making of soaps directly from sea-weeds 

 must be more advantageous than burning them for the purpose of making kelp, 

 because the fucusoil and glutinous matter they contain are saved and converted into 

 soap. The Brazilians use a malvaceous plant (Sida) for washing instead of soap, 

 and the Chinese use flour of beans in the scouring of their silk ; and I have found 

 that not only sea-weed, but also many other glutinous plants, and gluten and flour, 

 may be used in the manufacture of soap with advantage. 



