62 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



Transactions. 



ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



Los AngeIvES, April 8, 1902. 



The regular monthly meeting was held this evening at 724 South 

 Broadway. 



President Knight occupied the chair. 



EleT;en new memberships were voted upon favorably by the Academy, 

 as follows : Dr. Fitch C. E. Mattison, C B. Boothe, W. A. Boyd, M. D., 

 Dr. Wm. Capps, H. B. Perkins, S P. Channell, O. H. Goodwin, James A. 

 Chamberlain, Adolf Kraemer, H. P. Barnes, Rabbi S. Hecht, D. D, 



The first paper of the evening was by Dr. C. Schwalbe on 



POISON OAK AND THE CAUSE OF THE POISON. 



(This paper will be published in extenso in a subsequent issue of the 

 Bulletin.) 



Professor C. A. Whiting followed with a lecture on 



THE GERMINATION OF THE SEED. 



After a short description of the parts of the flower necessary to pollina- 

 tion, the process of germination was explained, as was also the value of 

 cross-fertilization n the quality of the seed produced. The seed of dico- 

 tyledons and monocotyledons were described. Stories of seeds germinating 

 after centuries of rest are almost cert-iinly without foundation in fact, he 

 said The method of absorption and cell growth, the upward growth of 

 the stem and the downward tendency of the root, were explained and 

 illustrated by the growing bean, punikin and melon. The influence of 

 bacteria in elaborating nitrogen in the roots of Legumes, and its conse- 

 quent value was noted. The lecture was illustrated throughout by color 

 drawings by J. E Stuart. 



Adjourned. B. R. Bauiigardt, Secretary. 



ASTRONOMICAL SECTION. 



April 1st 1902. 

 The Astronomical Section was called to order by the chairman, B. R. 

 Baumgardt, who made preliminary remarks touching astronomical topics 

 of interest. The paper of the evening was a discussion of the subject of 

 Glaciers, presented by Prof. J. F. Chamberlain of the State Normal School, 

 who considered the subject from standpoints of history, science and 

 observation, communicating many facts of interest and holding the closest 

 attention of his hearers. The discussion was continued with much interest 

 by those present, to the profit of all. 



Melville Dozier, Sect'y. 



BOTANICAL SECTION. 

 The monthly meeting on April 2Sih was well attended. The evening 

 was occupied with the examination of specimens and the discussion of 

 arrangements for the field meetings. 



