Welsh Journals

62 BY^-GONES. Apr. 3, 1895. tee should look after that matter.—Mr D. H. Richards, in supporting the motion, suggested that a good field glass would be a great acquisition to the Society, and they might purchase one out of the balance, "With regard to the museum, they went to the Town Council not to ask them if they could provide them with a play-house, but as they had had a number of promises of contributions, they asked the Council if they could provide them with houseroom if they thought a museum of sufficient public interest for them to take up. They told the Council at the same time that they had £30, and he did not think one exactly came hat in hand when one had money in one's pocket. "When they had a large balance and also room, they might consider whether they could buy books. He had offered to lend or give journals of the Chemical Society, and he had also the journals of the Royal Agricultural Society, and he knew Mr Nicholson had the journals of the Geological Society.—The report was adopted.—The following officers were then elected:—President, the Rev O. M. Feilden; Vice-President, Mr D. H. Richards; Hon. Sec¬ retary, Mr T. J. Bradshaw; Committee, Mrs Bradshaw, Mrs J. Tavlor, Mrs T. James, Messrs T. James, T. Jones, A. C. Nicholson, T. H. Hig- nett, and T. P. Diamond, with the officers ex- officio.—After an interval for refreshments, Mr Davies of Liverpool delivered a most interesting lecture on "The Economic Yalue of Lichens." In the course of his paper he said according to the old view it was regarded as a definite plant lying between the fungi and the algae; but recent re¬ searches by Dr Schwendener and others show it must be considered as a kind of fungus, having algae living in it, though not forming an integral part of it. The algae sometimes are scattered irregularly throughout the whole thallus, and sometimes form a definite layer. They live in union, and they mutually benefit each other. For the fungus having no chlorophyll in respiration gives off carbonic aoid gas, and takes in oxygen, while the green algae take up the earbonio acid and in return give,' ip oxygen. There is little doubt that in this and other ways they help one another. Many instances of this occur in the vegetable world, and sometimes algae are found liv¬ ing in animalculse. So far as its reproductive part is concerned it is a fungus composed of a thallus consisting of a web of myceloid threads, which encloses the gonidia, which are the green algae. The fructification ie an apothecium, which, when divided, is seen to contain a number of spore- cases, called asci. Each of these contains a definite number of spores. The male organs are called epermogones, and these contain the spermatia?, which consist of exceedingly minute bodies. Mr Davies prefaced his remarks upon the economic uses of lichens by stating that scientific investi¬ gation should be made the basis of the economic. A number of lichens contain starch or gum, and saccharine principles, and these are used directly as food. The Cetraria Islandioa—Iceland moss, is an example, which constitutes the basis of the food of the Icelanders. Travellers in the Arctic regions have been forced to live in cases of emer¬ gency upon Tripe de roche, which is made up in part of two kinds of lichen (Gyrophora cylindria and Probiscidea.) The Lecanora, called manna, is used as food in the Steppes of Russia and in Africa. Reindeer Moss (Cladonia Rangiferina) is food for the reindeer in Lapland. This grows in this country at the height of from 400 to 500 feet. In medicine again the Peltictia Canina was thought at one time a cure for rabies. The Stricta Pul- monaceae is recommended as a tonio and for chest complaints. Rocella Tinctoria yields a most valu¬ able dye, archil, which has been in extensive use. From this is manufactured Litmus, which sub¬ stance was of great value to the chemist as an indicator. Mr Davies explained the process of manufacturing litmus, and by experiments demon¬ strated the use of it. Cudbear, another dye, used for woollen yarn, was derived from Lecanora. The aniline dyes had taken the plaoe of these in a great measure, but from some standpoints they were not viewed as equal, or so pleasing to look at. Specimens of a few British lichens were handed around, and remarked upon by the lec¬ turer. In reply to a question as to the best authors upon British lichens, Mr Davies replied that there was here a wide field before any one who would like to take it up, and he would recom¬ mend " History of British Lichens" by "W. L. Lindsay, and 'Lichen Flora of Great Britain " by Rev W. A. Leighton. The lecture was listened to with great interest.—The meeting cosed with votes of thanks. APRIL 3, 1895. NOTES. ARIAN DAEAR.—The literal translation of " Arian Daear " would be earth money, and it ia a term used in Wales for money supposed to be hidden in the earth in some particular places, but the exact spot is rarely known. I believe that amusing book Cymru Fu, published by Messrs. Hughes and Son of Wrexham, contains an article on these hidden treasures, in which an attempt to gain possession of them proved unsuccessful, but a copy of the book is not at present within my reach. However, for the benefit of those who wish to become suddenly rich, I will impart the information that, according to the old folks of Llanwddyn, there is a box, full of money, con¬ cealed in the earth at a place known as Ceunant y Pistyll, the brook and waterfall on Llechwedd Du farm which formed the boundary between Ty'n y Coed and Llechwedd Du before they were made into one farm. This brook runs into Llanwddyn Lake ; and about a quarter of a mile higher up in the mountain there is a causeway called Sarn y Gwylliaid, one of the haunts of Gwylliaid Cochion Mawddwy. Near the Ceunant y Pistyll waterfall, so runs tradition, peveral attempts were made at different times to unearth a treasure said to be concealed there. But before the excavators could succeed they were always pre¬ vented, either by great storms, accompanied by thunder and lightning, or by the appearance of