287 



matter that was precipitated with the solanine. This resid- 

 ual mass is next treated with boihng alcohol, wliich disolves 

 all the solanine with a little coloring matter, if it has not 

 all been removed by the previous mentioned treatment. 

 The solanine is crystallised out by evaporating the alcohol 

 and forms colorless needles or columns. 



As nothing definite could be ascertained in regard to the 

 precise locality of their growth, on the manner in which 

 they were subsequently treated for winter preservation, it is 

 not very easy to make a satisfactory explanation on chemi- 

 cal principles of these singular results. But the most prov- 

 able is this, solanine is always a resulting compound in the 

 first stages of decay, and the potatoes in question were evi- 

 dently in the primitive stages of decomposition. 



Tlmrsday, July 29, 1858. 



Field Meeting at Lynnfield Centre. — The membei*s 

 of the Essex Institute with a party of friends took the cars 

 on the South Reading Branch Railroad at its depot in Salem 

 and alighted at the Montrose Station about twenty minutes 

 past ten, A. M. This station is out of the limits of Essex 

 County, a small stream being the boundary line between 

 it and Middlesex County, in which Montrose lies. As the 

 subject of these excursions belong to our county proper, and 

 as geographical limits have no extraordinary signs to dis- 

 tinguish them, it was a matter of some merriment among 

 the juniors to find they were trespassing upon foreign do- 

 mains. The alleged reasons for this departure from prece- 

 dents was, the nearer way it afforded to reach the centre 

 village of Lynnfield, where the place of rendevouz was ap- 

 pointed. No especial harm came from this, as the natura- 

 list and all lovers of Nature, exercise an ancient privilege 

 of insisting upon a right of travel in any desmesnes where 

 she invites. It was the intention of the committee of ar- 

 rangements for this day, that the longer but far more beauti- 

 ful road from the Lynnfield station upon the same rail road 

 track should be taken, which would have afforded more shade 



