1886. ] BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 227 
Mr. Morong exhibited some Potamogeton fluitans from Niag- 
ara river. 
Miss Lillie J. Martin read a paper in which she recommended 
the use of petroleum spirit (boiling 25°-45° C.) for the preser- 
vation of plant tissues. The subject was discussed by Mr. Sea- 
man, Professor Barnes and Miss Martin. 
Professor B. E. Fernow exhibited a branch from a chestnut 
which bore spikes of small burrs, and at a distance looked like 
achinquapin. The tree grew wild in a wood-lot, in Lehigh Co., 
Pennsylvania. All the other trees have the same condition of 
evelopment, and no cause for this freak could be discovered. 
He was inclined to think that it was self-fertilizing, but no male 
flowers were discovered. 
_ _ Professor Underwood asked if there was any evidence of an 
injury, as he had often observed that injuries in certain plants 
tend to produce abnormal development, but Mr. Fernow had dis- 
covered none. 
Professor Burrill called attention to the fact of the side shoots 
of Indian corn, near the base, bearing both sorts of flowers, the 
tassels coming out in the ordinary way, and in the tassels more 
or less female flowers. In husk corn this is a common thing 
The discussion was continued by Messrs. Beal, Farquhar and 
Fernow, and Mrs. Walcott. 
Dr. W. J. Beal spoke of the escape of the seeds of Sporobolus 
ery ptandrus. 
Monpay, August 23,9 4.M. The time for the election of 
officers for the ensuing year having arrived a committee on nom- 
inations was appointed, and their report as follows unanimously 
adopted: For chairman, M. 8. Bebb, of Rockford, Illinois ; for 
secretary, Mrs. E. L. Britton, of New York city. 
: _ L. Scribner read a paper upon the occurrence of the orange 
seab in Florida, a disease which is comparatively new and which 
threatens to destroy nursery stock. 
Prof. J. H. Pillsbury described a method of making lantern 
; is really very simple an 
g gelatin (which comes in 
i ‘et ts that are not mue 
piece of gelatin is put over any d 
fine steel point (such as lithograp 
traced upon the gelatin. Slipping l 
of glass a lantern slide is the result, s 
kinds of illustrations. These slips of gelatin can be purchased 
at almost any lithographic establishment. 
