go SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 
This may be due to the greater distance over which the material in 
the moon is spread, due to the diminished gravity that resisted its 
movement when thrown out. 
It is believed by some that_changes on the surface of the moon are 
now in progress, though on comparatively small scale. 
Prof. Pickering holds that there are evidences of hoar frost, form- 
ing during the long and intensely cold lunar night, and melting or 
evaporating during the equally long and proportionately hot lunar day. 
This presupposes water in at least small quantities, and gives a basis 
for the existence of » low form of vegetable life, evidences of which 
he thinks exist in the varying tints of certain portions of the moon’s 
surface during the exposure to sunlight. 
The discussion of the subject at the close of Dr. Comstock’s re- 
marks was participated in quite generally and involved a wide range of 
thought. MELVILLE DOZIER, Secretary. 
3. Section of Geology. 
The Geological Section of the Academy met on Monday evening, 
February 27, at 8 p. m., at the State Normal School Building. 
The meeting was called to order by the Chairman, George W. 
Parsons. 
Prof. Robert E. Ford, of the Throop Institute, was then introduced, 
and gave a very interesting lecture on ‘‘How We Get Our Iron and 
steel. ’”7 
He traced the industry back to 1619, in Virginia, where the first 
iron was manufactured, but afterwards Pennsylvania became the center 
of the iron industry. He stated that iron ore is found in almost every 
State, although the bulk of the ores used in this country are now pro- 
duced in New York, Alabama, Wisconsin and the Lake Superior region. 
These ores consist of soft and hard hematite, magnetite and car- 
bonate. ; 
With lantern slides he showed how the largest steamers are loadee 
for shipment in two hours by machinery, though commonly unloaded by 
hand. 
Questions were asked by the audience. The Secretary exhibited 
some specimens of hematite crystalization. 
G. MAJOR TABER, Secretary. 
4, Section of Botany. 
This Section met February 21 at 544 Wilcox Building, Dr. A. 
Davidson in the Chair. 
The meeting was devoted to the consideration of the recent addi- 
tions to the County Flora. Mr. S. B. Parish has reported in the Botanical 
Gazette the following: 
Centaurea cyanus L. Race track Los Angeles (Nevin). 
Psilocarpus tenellus Nutt. Near Glendale (Braunton). 
Chenopodium leptophyllum Nutt. Lang (Nevin). 
Sparganium greenei Morong. Near Ballona (Grant). 
The Chairman reported the finding of Lotus parviflorus Greene in 
San Gabriel Canyon and Mentzelia congesta at Mt. Wilson. 
COLTON RUSSELL, Secretary. 
