146 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
nifera and a siliceous, close-textured sponge, referred to Tethea, 
of the species Logani, which is now found in water from the 
tide line to 200 fathoms deep. Mr. J. H. Nevill undertook to 
examine and report upon the specimens. 
Mr. H. A. Hurst presented a copy of Part iv, vol. xii, of the 
‘Journal of the Agricultural and Horticultural Society of India,’ 
published at Calcutta, containing the prize essay “On Cotton 
Cultivation in India from Foreign Seed,” by Dr. J. Shortt, F.L.8., 
Zillah Surgeon, Chingleputt, for which the prize of 1000 rupees 
and the gold medal of the Manchester Cotton Supply Association 
were awarded. 
Mr. Hurst read a paragraph from page 499, relating to the 
early stage of the cotton-pod, which, bearing on points lately in 
dispute, 1s given entire : 
“On examining a cotton-pod soon after the ovary has been 
impregnated (which is known by the change in colour and the 
fading of the petals or flower leaves, or corolla), it is found to 
contain a number of seeds, according to its particular variety. 
If a single seed be separated and examined by the naked eye, 
nothing is visible; but when seen through the microscope, 
it is found covered with a villous coat, formed apparently of 
elongated cells, joined end to end. These are filled with sap. 
The young seed itself is somewhat pear-shaped, and resembles in 
miniature some of the China candied fruits, with the frosted 
crystals of sugar covering it. On letting out the contents of a 
single cell, it is found to consist of granular cells, containing a 
centro-lateral nucleus. On examining a pod between three and 
four weeks old, the seed still retains somewhat of its pyriform 
shape, and appears quite shaggy ; the fibres, tapering to a point 
at their free ends, resemble hollow cylindrical tubes, filled with 
fluid and vary in length; and on submitting a single fibre com- 
pressed between pieces of glass to the microscope, the flattened 
surfaces become distinctly visible. Again, on substituting a 
mature fibre before it gets dried, the filament is found to consist 
of tubular hairs, which are now quite cylindrical. After the 
dehiscence of the mature capsule, by the contraction and separa- 
tion of its valves, the wool becomes dry from exposure. A fila- 
ment now placed under the microscope is found to resemble a 
flattened piece of tape twisted upon itself, and apparently formed 
of an extremely thin and transparent membrane, interspersed with 
dark, granular matter, which, after a certain time, disappears in 
some of the varieties.”’ 
Mr. J. G. Lynde, F.G.S., M. Inst. C.E., read a paper “ On 
the Action of Magenta upon Vegetable Tissue,’ in which he 
described a series of experiments upon cuttings of Vallisneria, 
immersed in a solution of that dye in glass cells under the 
microscope, with its effects upon the circulation and the cell con- 
tents of the plant. He found that so long as vital action con- 
tinued, the cell-walls and moving chlorophyll retained their green 
colour; but the injured cells were immediately deeply reddened, 
