231 
MICROSCOPICAL SECTION. 
< h'dinary Meeting, January 18th, 1864. 
Professor Williamson, F.R.S., Vice-President of the 
Section, in the Chair. 
Mr. Gkindon was elected an ordinary member of the 
Section. 
The adjourned debate on Mr. Heys’s Paper on the structure 
of the cotton fibre then commenced. 
Professor Williamson did not agree with Mr. Heys as to 
the moniliform character of the fibre. He conceived it to be, 
like other cell structures, merely an elongated cell with its 
usual wall and contents. The moniliform appearance 
observed by Mr. Heys was owing to the hard starch or gum 
granules in the spiral contents of the ripe cell, preventing the 
collapse of the tube in those places where they existed on the 
drying of the cell, thus giving the appearance alluded to. 
He thought the only way to arrive at a correct conclusion 
was to examine the fibre in a growing state in all stages from 
its earliest appearance in the flower bud until its maturity. 
The twist of the fibre so often alluded to he considered to be 
owing entirely to the drying and consequent curling up of 
the cells, as in other vegetable structures. Professor William- 
son strongly urged those members who had convenience, to 
grow a number of cotton plants and carefully examine the 
fibre in all its stages. Surely Manchester ought not to allow 
the question as to the structure of the cotton fibre to be dis- 
cussed and settled elsewhere. 
