478 OFFICIAL JOURNEYS. 
The opening of this building and the inspection of its fine equipment were followed 
by a special meeting of Section B (Chemistry), the President (Sir RoBrRT RoBERTsoN) 
in the chair, 108 being present. 
The President, opening the meeting, referred to the preceding ceremony of the 
inauguration of the building in which the meeting was held. He introduced the 
discussion on Photosynthesis by referring to the work of Moore, and pointing out the 
special interest of the subject for agriculture. 
Prof. E. C. C. Baty delivered an address in which he pointed out that ‘ the presence 
of formaldehyde has been proved in solutions of carbonic acid after exposure to ultra- 
violet light. Since formaldehyde on activation by light at once polymerises to give 
reducing sugars, it is probable that the formaldehyde produced photo-chemically 
from carbonic acid does the same, and therefore the first recognisable product of the 
action of ultra-violet light on carbonic acid will be the sugars, the ordinary formal- 
dehyde being produced by the action of the ultra-violet light on the sugars. This 
has been proved to be the case. 
“Independent evidence of the formation of activated formaldehyde is found in 
the fact that solutions of carbonic acid containing potassium nitrate gave form- 
hydroxamine acid on exposure to ultra-violet, the same compound being formed if 
ordinary formaldehyde is substituted for the carbonic acid. Further reducing sugars 
are produced by the action of the silent discharge on mixtures of hydrogen and carbon 
monoxide. 
“Considerable quantities of the reducing compounds have been prepared by the 
action of light on formaldehyde and the presence of a hexose has been proved by 
Irvine and Francis.’ 
Principal Irvine described the chemical examination of Prof. Baly’s synthetic 
product by the method of methylation. The original syrup he found to contain 
between 9 and 12 per cent. of methoxide groups. It did not contain hydrolysable 
carbohydrates of the formula (C,H;,0;) nor glucosides nor polysaccharides. About 
10 per cent. of hexoses were definitely present, chiefly glucose and mannose, but not 
galactose. 
Prof. C. W. Porrrr, of the University of California, described very careful experi- 
ments, chiefly with very pure carbon dioxide and water in which, when all contamina- 
tion was prevented, he definitely failed to obtain formaldehyde or reducing sugars. 
His experiments were almost entirely carried out with gases, whereas Prof. Baly 
dealt with solutions. Prof. Porter also mentioned a smooth photo-chemical trans- 
formation of acetone vapour at 100° quantitatively to CO, and ethane, and also the 
transformation of benzophenone in 50 per cent. aqueous alcohol to benz-pinacol. 
After an interval for tea provided by the University, Prof. J. H. PrrmstuEy pointed 
out that photosynthesis in the plant must go like a flash with almost instantaneous 
formation of starch, without any possibility of the accumulation of formaldehyde, 
even if it were the intermediate product. He dissented from E. F. Armstrong’s view 
that sucrose was the first sugar formed, pointing out that its variation in amount in 
darkness and in light, in contrast to the relatively uniform presence of hexose, was 
good evidence of sucrose being merely a storage product. He believed in separate 
enzyme machineries, independent of each other, transforming hexose into inulin, 
sucrose, and starch respectively. These processes must be quite independent of each 
other, and are characteristic for the particular plant or even for a particular part of 
a variegated leaf. 
Animated discussion followed, in which Prof. Bancroft, Principal Irvine, Prof. 
Raman, and Prof. Baly took part. 
Principal Irvine agreed with Prof. Priestley that sucrose was not a first product, 
and that formations of starch, sucrose, and cellulose were wholly independent reactions, 
and mentioned the very rapid condensation of the anhydride of glucose, and also 
discussed formation of galactose from glucose as a sort of Walden inversion. 
Sir R. Robertson moved a vote of thanks to the speakers. 
A meeting of Section C (Geology) was also held, at which the President, Prof. 
W. W. Watts, took the chair and called upon Dr. J. W. Mellor to give an address on 
Clays and the Clay Industry. The lecturer had selected this subject as it was of 
great local interest. He laid some stress on the harmful influence of those who could 
not distinguish between bad workmanship and Art. The difficulties to be contended 
with in the industry were quite great enough without introducing unnecessary factors. 
He then remarked on the commercial possibilities of certain of the clays in the province, 
indicating some of the articles for which they might prove suitable. 
