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gases, gases in liquids, liquids in liquids, solids in liquids and solids in 

 solids. Solutions in liquids were the only ones considered in that 

 lecture. When the proportion of the substance dissolved (the solute) 

 to the solvent does not exceed a certain amount, there is no tendency 

 in the solution for the constituents to separate under the force of 

 gravity — thus a true solution is not formed when milk and Scott's 

 Emulsion are poured together, as floating particles of oil can be 

 seen, as was shown by means of the lantern. The lecturer then 

 described the ionic hypothesis, which regards certain so-called 

 elements as being really compounds, sodium for instance consisting 

 of an atom of an element called sodion combined with an electron 

 or negatively electrified particle having an atomic weight of about 

 one-thousandth of that of hydrogen. In many cases of solution it 

 is considered that these elemental substances, known as ions, are 

 produced, they having different properties from the corresponding 

 substances, hitherto called elements, of which they form a part. 

 The analysis of solutions is to a great extent concerned with the 

 detection and identification of ions, two especially being of great 

 importance, that called hydrion (the ionic form of hydrogen) being 

 characteristic of acids, and that called hydroxidion being character- 

 istic of alkalies. Various experiments were then performed, some 

 to show characteristic changes in colour due to the admixture of 

 certain liquids or classes of liquids, others to show the precipitation 

 of solids from a mixture of liquids ; and the lecturer acknowledged 

 with thanks the assistance he had received in the preparation of 

 these experiments from Miss Hawker, Mr. Barlow and Mr. Stubbs. 



This was the title of a lecture given by Miss Ida 

 The Blossoming M R ope r, f.l.s., of Bristol, on the 9th April, the 

 of the Trees. chair being taken by Miss C. Agnes Rooper. 

 Miss Roper said that little attention was given to the blossoms of 

 our native trees, probably because they were inconspicuous com- 

 pared with the showy and fragrant flowers of many other species. 

 There were about 18 species, belonging to six of the natural orders, 

 to mention, disregarding the trees that had been introduced. The 

 flower buds are formed late in the season, lying dormant through 

 the winter, and in the after-development of the flower trees could be 

 grouped under four headings: — (1) Those flowering early in spring 

 before the leaves expand ; (2) Those in which the inflorescence 

 takes the form of catkins and becomes perfect before the leaves 

 open ; (3) Those also bearing catkins, but when the leaves are 

 further advanced ; (4) Those with white or coloured flowers, usually 

 in perfection when the leaves are well advanced. There is another 

 division of the trees into monoecious, in which stamen-bearing 

 flowers and ovary-bearing flowers are found on the same tree, and 

 dioecious, in which the two kinds of flowers were found only on 

 separate trees. The lecturer then described the four groups in turn, 

 mentioning many of the species belonging to them and describing 

 their habits and characteristics, and a number of very fine lantern 

 slides were shown, illustrating different stages in the development 

 of trees, with enlarged photographs and diagrams of leaves, flowers 

 and other details. 



