22 YALE AGRICULTURAL LECTURES. 



is almost water but contains sugar sometimes,) and the green 

 leaf-color, known as chlorophyll, are also contained in the cell. 

 Starch, too, is sometimes there, and each grain of it is organ 

 ized, and so organized for each plant that the source of a 

 specimen of starch may often be revealed by microscopic exam 

 ination. Potatoes store up starch in enormous quantities for 

 the use of the next year's seed-ball ; but we, thieves that we 

 are, carry off storehouse, contents and all for our own use. 



In cells there are acids sometimes ; malic is made by the ap 

 ple, citric by the lemon, and other kinds by others. Starch is 

 insoluble in water, and cannot, therefore, circulate through the 

 plant ; but sugar can, and dextrine, which is in its nature 

 somewhat intermediate between sugar and starch. There are 

 two grand divisions in the plant world the flowering and 

 the flowerless. The former have elongated cells, as well as 

 short ones, but the simpler of the latter class have not. The 

 distinction is not now recognized as universal, although it has 

 been until recently. 



I learn that a friend to Yale College is about to make it a 

 magnificent donation in the shape of a building for its Scien 

 tific School. The main building is about fifty feet square, and 

 has two wings of equal dimensions, in one of which is to be 

 the Agricultural Museum, in the other a fine laboratory. The 

 first and second floors of the main building are assigned to the 

 Engineering School, the third to a lecture hall. 



SECOND DAY. FEB. 2, 1860. 



Dr. ASA FITCH, of New York, gave last evening his lecture 

 on "Economical Entomology," or injurious insects. The Tem 

 ple, where this convention sits, was about half filled, and the 

 lecturer was frequently applauded. Dr. Fitch labors in a field 

 of science vastly important to farmers, but very poorly under 

 stood. As he very justly remarked last evening, the devasta- 



