1887.] Dr A. B. Griffiths on Rays of Solar Spectrum. 
129 
(For further details, see Journal Chemical Society, Trans., 1885, 
page 54). This proves that a soluble iron salt nourishes the chloro- 
phyll granules; and recently Prof. J. v. Sachs, in describing the 
symptoms of vegetable chlorosis, recommends the salts of iron as a 
remedy (Biedermann’s Centralblatt fur Agrikultur Chemie, vol xv. 
part 9). It has been shown by one of us that crystals of iron sul- 
phate have been found near to the chlorophyll granules when 
sections of plants are examined under the highest powers of the 
microscope (Journal Chemical Society, Trans., 1883, page 195). 
Hence it appears that albuminoids, or, in other words, the proto- 
plasm of the living cell, is formed by the combined action of assimi- 
lation and root-absorption in the vicinity of the chlorophyll granules. 
The sulphur required to complete the albumen molecule comes from 
the decomposition of sulphates, and the nitrogen from the nitrates 
or ammonia salts (added to the soil or derived from organic matter) 
taken into the plant by root-absorption. 
PRIVATE BUSINESS. 
Mr Arthur Silva White, Mr W. Peddie, Mr H. M. Cadell, Mr G. 
B. Wieland, and Mr A. H. Sexton were balloted for, and declared 
duly elected Fellows of the Society. 
Monday , 21 st March 1887 . 
The Hon. Lord MHABEN, Vice-President, in the Chair. 
The following Communications were read : — 
1. Variations in the Value of the Monetary Standard. 
By Professor Nicholson. 
2. On Ice and Brines. By J. Y. Buchanan. 
{Abstract.) 
The composition of the ice produced in saline solutions, and more 
particularly in sea-water, has frequently been the object of investi- 
gation and of dispute. It might be thought that to a question of 
VOL. XIV. 23/9/87 l 
