970 Transactions of tub American Institute. 



sometimes found among hybrid seedlings a vigor superior, in that 

 respect, to either parent. May not such often occur in nature, and 

 as a naturally selected parent becomes the progenitor of a hardier 

 and more vigorous race (which having in it, according to Darwin's 

 views, a tendency to diverge), may it not culminate, in the long 

 lapse of time, into a distinct species, and even annihilate the weaker 

 one which gave it being ? So that, in natm'e's crossing, may not 

 fertility and vigor take the place of sterility and weakness, into 

 which she so generally dwindles when modified by man's device? 



NEW PROCESS FOR PRESERVING WOOD. 



Dr. Feuchtwanger read a short paper on various plans for pre- 

 serving wood, and introduced Mr. Sigismund Beer to the meeting, 

 who explained his new process for seasoning and preserving wood, 

 and exhibited various specimens prepared by him. He first removes 

 the albumen by submitting the wood to boiling water or steam, and 

 then immersing it in a boiling solution of borax (the biborate of 

 soda) in water; or the wood may, in the first instance, be treated 

 with the borax solution. This removes all substances injuriously 

 aflecting the wood. fiber. The wood thus treated, becomes harder, 

 impregnable to water, vermin proof, unaflected by. the dryness or 

 moisture of the atmosphere, and is almost incombustible. 



The subject was discussed by Prof. Vanderweyde, Messrs. Fisher, 

 Stetson, Blanchard and Emory, after which John A. Parker, Esq., 

 of New York, read the following paper: 



POLAR MAGNETISM. 



With the consent of the Society, I propose this evening to read a 

 paper which I have prepared, on the subject of polar magnetism — 

 the attraction of the needle to the pole — the variations of the 

 compass, and the [>henomena observable as incident to the same. 



The subject stretches over a vast area of natural truth, and 

 therefore on an occasion like the present I must necessarily be very 

 brief on each particular point. I do not propose to examine, criti- 

 cise, or discuss any of the written theories on the subject, but to 

 limit myself to my own personal observations and reflections, and 

 to draw conclusions only from such phenomena as are manifest to 

 our vision and sense, irrespective of all previous theories and specu- 

 lations in regard to them. The subject has not only a vast scien- 

 tific importance, but also a gi-eat commercial value, and it is in this 

 latter connection chiefly that, in the first instance, I have been led 

 to consider it. 



