114 Proceedings of the Botanical Society of 
colonies, which fed on the little white cellular tips of the 
leaflets. 
December 3. Mr. Walmsley occupied the chair, and called 
on Dr. Adolph Miller, who gave an interesting lecture on 
sacred trees and plants. He compared the views held by the 
Hindoos and the germanic nations, regarding many well- 
known plant species. 
Dr. S. C. Schmucker spoke on “ Fungi Observed during the 
Season of 1897.” He stated that the nutritive value of the 
esculent fungi had been greatly overrated and that an analysis 
of one species gave water 92.5 per cent, solids 7.48 per cent, 
of which 0.47 was ash. A fine series of drawings in water 
color by Mrs. Schmucker was used to illustrate the paper. 
Specimens of several rare orchids were exhibited from the 
collection of Mrs. George B. Wilson. Mrs.Conard, of Sharon 
Hill, exhibited mellow Japanese Persimmons matured on a tree 
in her garden, which annually bore a considerable crop of fruit. 
She also exhibited a variegated form of Podocarpus elongatus, 
and a collection of orchids. 
December 17. Dr. Adolph Miller occupied the chair. Mr. 
T. Chalkley Palmer spoke on “ The Movements of Diatoms.” 
After discussing the views of Smith, Mueller, Lauterborn and 
Butschli, the speaker considered the movements to be due to 
circulation of protoplasm round the frustule. Mr. Charles 
Boyer then described development and reproduction in the 
Diatomaceae as observed by him in Aunotia pectinalis, from 
the New Jersey swamps. He combatted Miguel’s view that 
continued division results in diminished size of the diatoms. 
Mr. Walmsley gave “Reminiscences of Diatomaceous 
Workers in Philadelphia.” 
January 7, 1898. Dr. Macfarlane occupied the chair, and 
called on Dr. Emily Hunt, who spoke on “ Our Oak Trees.” 
This was a highly suggestive popular discourse and was illus- 
trated by a large suite of dried specimens, by living twigs 
which showed the bud structure, and by lantern slides. 
Dr. Harshberger described “ Fungus Diseases of the Oaks,” 
