626 



tion of the fluid was added chloride of calcium, and obtained a preci- 

 pitate of oxalate of lime, showing the presence of oxalic acid ; it was 

 then filtered ; and to a portion of the tiltrate potash was added. No 

 precipitate was obtained, and therefore no tartaric acid. To the 

 remainder of the filtrate was added ammonia, which gave no precipi- 

 tate when cold ; but upon boiling it a slight one was obtained, show- 

 a trace of citric acid. The remainder of the original solution was 

 evaporated down, and the residue taken up with alcohol, A small 

 quantity of gummy matter separated. On evaporating the alcoholic 

 fluid down it left some sugar. The residue was then placed in a pla- 

 tinum capsule, and subjected to red heat. The ashes (which were of 

 a brown colour) were then taken up with water, and a few drops of 

 hydrochloiic acid added, which gave to the fluid a yellow colour, 

 showing the presence of oxide of iron. It was then filtered, and car- 

 bonate of ammonia added, which gave a distinct trace of lime ; filtered 

 again, and to the filtrate was added phosphate of soda, which gave a 

 trace of magnesia. Potash and soda were present in minute quanti- 

 ties. The results are : — Oxalic and citric acid (copious traces), oxi- 

 dizable extractive, gum, sugar, lime, magnesia, iron, potash and soda." 

 3. ' Notice relative to the Transmission of Foreign Seeds in Soil ;' 

 by Mr. M'Nab. The author of this paper stated that he had long 

 been in the belief that the transmission of fruits and seeds in a fit state 

 for germination would be better accomplished by being packed in soil 

 than by any other known method. This experiment was fully tested 

 by himself in 1834, when he brought over the seeds of many of the 

 rarer American oaks and other trees in boxes filled with soil ; while 

 portions of the same kinds of seeds, packed both in brown paper and 

 cloth bags, were in many instances totally useless. The method he 

 adopted for the American tree-seeds was as follows : — He purchased 

 several strong deal boxes, about fourteen inches in diameter, and made 

 of f inch wood. He afterwards procured a quantity of soil, taken from 

 a depth of eight or ten inches under the surface, so as to possess only 

 a natural dampness. A layer of the soil, two inches deep, was placed 

 on the bottom of the boxes, above which a layer of seeds was distri- 

 buted ; another layer of soil, and then seed, and so on till the boxes 

 were full. The whole was pressed very firmly down, when the lids 

 were nailed on, allowing no possible room to shake about. When 

 they reached Edinburgh, in December, 1834, the seeds and soil were 

 sown over the surface of shallow pans and boxes. During the following 

 spring they grew freely ; while of those brought home in the paper 

 and cloth bags comparatively few of the varieties grew, the acorns 



