11 PROCEEDINGS. 



Review of Year's Work. 



During the year we have had ten papers presented at 

 our meetings, and the subject matter contained contributions 

 in the botanical, chemical, physical, geological and phj^sio- 

 logical sciences, so that the papers read, though not above 

 our average in number, were varied and represented different 

 fields of research; and I may say that all the papers embodj^ 

 the results of much patient work and are valuable stepping 

 stones in the path of scientific progress. 



The paper that evoked the most animated discussion 

 was that of Dr. Eraser Harris on "Coloured Thinking." 

 Much of our recent work has been in the physical sciences, 

 and this departure into mental science met with a hearty 

 welcome. 



Of especial practical value to the Province is the series 

 of analyses of Nova Scotian soils contributed by Prof. Harlow, 

 Last year we had a paper from Prof. Mcintosh on the geology 

 of the contact zone at the North West Arm; this year Mr. 

 Vickery gives us the analysis of the contact rock locally known 

 as ironstone. This term is somewhat of a misnomer, as 

 "ironstone" is usually applied to an impure iron ore, but 

 the term is used locally on account either of hardness or of 

 the colour of the weathered rock. To contact-metamorphosed 

 rock the general term hornstone or hornfels has been applied. 

 We should have for this local rock of commercial utility some 

 name for common use that would be lithologically correct. 



I cannot refer to all the year's work, but I would mention 

 the paper by Mr. J. H. L. Johnstone "On the Electrical Pro- 

 perties of Acetic Acid in the Solid and Liquid Phases." This, 

 following one last year by the same author on the "Cor.- 

 ductivity of Ice" shews one trend of present chemical research. 



Remarks on Valency. 

 For many years past our Institute, like other scientific 

 societies, has received papers on measurements of the dis- 



