San Francisco Microspical Society. ^ 



SAN FRANCISCO MICROSCOPICAL SOCIFTY. 



December 15, 1887. 



A letter was received from Arthur J. Doherty of Manchester, 

 Eiii^land, relating to the demonstrations of preparing and mount- 

 ing of microscopic objects which the society has engaged him to 

 give in this city. Mr. Doherty is an excellent preparer of micros- 

 copic material, and the members intend, on his arrival, to hold 

 meetings every other evening for two weeks, each evening to be 

 devoted to practical mounting of a certain class of objects 



A letter was read from J. C. Rumbock of Vienna, transmitting 

 specimens of diatomaceous earths from Oomaru, New Zealand, 

 and from Szent Peter and Szakel, in Hungary. There were also 

 donations of the same kind from William Irelan, State Mineralo- 

 gist, one being diatomaceous earth from near Pioche, Nev., and 

 the other from a deposit near the Edge Hill Vineyard, in Napa 

 county. 



Mr. Riedy and Dr. Riehl reported upon a previous donation 

 from Mr. Irelan from Shasta county, that the earth was rich in 

 diatoms, but only a few forms were observable, and they of the 

 commoner kinds. 



The announcement that a piece of the society's apparatus was 

 held in the New York Custom House for payment of duty when 

 the society is, by law, entitled to the admission of its property duty 

 free, induced a discussion on the subject of the admission ©f all 

 microscopical instruments, whether for the society or for individual 

 investigators. Dr. Mouser thought a memorial ought to be pre- 

 pared and transmitted to Conyress, and believed it would secure 

 the support of the Congressman from this district. The wisdom 

 of such a policy on the part of the Government was urged, because 

 it would really aid the scientific investigator, while the present 

 tariff continually oppresses and hampers him. After a general 

 discussion of the subject a committee to prepare a memorial to 

 Congress was appointed as follows: Henry C. Hyde, Dr. S. M. 

 Mouser, Dr. J. M. Selfridge. 



Dr. H. W. Harkness called the attention of the society to the 

 statement of F. Lamson Scribner, United .States Mycologist, that 

 the Peroiospora viiicola was not found in this State. Dr. Hark- 

 ness stated that he had found it as early as 1872, and an account 

 of its occurrence was published in the bulletin of the California 

 Academy of Sciences for June, 1887. 



Edwara J. Wickson, Rec. Sec. 



The 'Santa Clara Valley' Agassiz Association* chapter has 

 recently been organized at the office of that journal. Louise E. 

 Francis, assistant editor Sa7ita Clara Valley, San Jose, Cal., is 

 the chapter's address. , .^ 



