224 Mr A. S. Lea, Some remarks on the urea-ferment. [Feb. 16, 



February 16, 1885. 

 Prof. Foster, President, in the Chair. 



The following were elected Fellows : 



J. H. Randell, B.A. 

 W. Gardiner, B.A. 

 R. Threlfall, B.A. 



The following communications were made to the Society: — 



(1) Some remarks on the Urea-ferment. By A. S. Lea, M.A. 



The object of this communication was to demonstrate more 

 definitely than has hitherto been done, the isolability of an 

 amorphous, unorganised ferment, capable of rapidly effecting the 

 ammonic conversion of urea from the Torula ureae. 



Experiments were shewn demonstrating the isolation of the 

 ferment and its dependence upon the Torula to which the fer- 

 mentation was initially due. 



(2) On the occurrence of reproductive organs on the root of 

 Laminaria bullosa. By W. Gardiner, B.A. 



Having briefly dwelt upon Sach's idea of " root " and " shoot," 

 the author stated that one of the fundamental ideas connected 

 with root structures was that they did not bear reproductive 

 organs. In Laminaria bulbosa however he found that sporangia 

 are produced on the root and even at the very apex of the rootlets. 

 In his opinion this occurrence was an example of " adaptation to 

 environment," and did not therefore overthrow the usually received 

 notions as expressed by Sachs. So far as he had observed, it was 

 only when the frond had been broken off from the root by the 

 violence of the waves or other causes, that the sporangia made 

 their appearance. 



(3) On a new form of sporangium in Alaria esculenta, with 

 suggestions as to the existence of sexual reproduction in the Lami- 

 naria. By W. Gardiner, B.A. 



So far the form of sporangium observed in Alaria was one 

 containing four spores, usually known as tetraspores, and therefore 

 asexual. The author has discovered another form which contained 



